A boy aged 10 was killed in a freak accident yesterday at a summer soccer camp. Andrew Fitzgerald from Old Road, Grange, Co Limerick, died when a goalposts collapsed on him at Holycross Soccer Club in Grange near Bruff town. in Co Limerick.
The youngster was taking part in a penalty shoot-out competition as part of a local soccer camp when a gust of wind blew over net covering attached to the goalposts thereby bringing down the cross-bar.
It is understood the boy received serious injuries to his head and upper body in the accident, which happened at 3.45 p.m., less than a mile from his family's home. A local doctor attended the scene and Andrew was taken to Limerick Regional Hospital but pronounced dead at 5 p.m. An only child, Andrew was due to celebrate his 11th birthday next week.
A spokesman for Holycross Soccer Club described him as a beautiful child who was a "laugh a minute".
"The club and everyone connected with the soccer camp is devastated by today's event. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family of Andrew who was a beautiful child, the absolute life and soul of everything he was involved in, a real laugh-a-minute child. We pray for his soul," said the spokesman.
Gardaí from Bruff are investigating the incident, which was described last night as a "freak accident".
"There is nothing suspicious about this incident. It was a freak accident and it is being investigated in conjunction with the Health and Safety Authority," said a Garda spokesman.
Local Supt Mick O'Keeffe described the incident as tragic and said the entire community was in a state of shock when news of the accident broke.
Local parish priest Father Joe Foley spent last night comforting Andrew's distraught family.
"Everybody is just completely devastated. It is beyond comprehension," said Father Foley.
Funeral arrangements are due to be confirmed today.