A man from the Essex border along with a governing body for athletics have been charged with killing a Paralympian following an incident at a leisure centre in 2017. Abdullah Hayayei died following an incident at a training session in Newham Leisure Centre on July 11 that year.
The United Arab Emirates athlete, aged 36, was training for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships at the time when he was struck by a metal pole at the centre. Now, the governing body and a 77-year-old man have been charged with manslaughter and various Health and Safety offences.
UK Athletics Limited, the national governing body for athletics, was charged on Tuesday (January 7) with corporate manslaughter and offences under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Read more:The Essex areas where 5 roads within a few miles of each other will be shut for weeks
Read more: The Essex life of TOWIE star Ferne McCann as she’s set to appear on Dancing on Ice – from ‘tough times’ to split rumours
Keith Davies, 77, of Bushwood, Leytonstone and Head of Sport for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships was charged on Monday (January 6) with gross negligence manslaughter and offences under Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Both UK Athletics and Davies are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday January 31. An investigation was launched after emergency services responded to reports of a seriously injured man struck on the head by a metal pole during a training incident at Newham Leisure Centre in Prince Regent Lane on July 11.
Mr Hayayei was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said: “Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised criminal charges against UK Athletics Limited and a 77-year-old man following the death of United Arab Emirates Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei.
“Mr Hayayei, 36, died after a metal throwing cage fell on him while he was training for the shot put at Newham Leisure Centre in London on 11 July, 2017. UK Athletics Ltd has been charged with corporate manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence.
“Keith Davies, the former Head of Sport at UK Athletics Ltd, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active and both UK Athletics Ltd and Mr Davies have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”