Boy of 9 dies after colliding with child in kickabout on Spanish beach
A BRITISH boy died in a freak accident while playing football on a Spanish beach.
Kai Fawcett, nine, went into cardiac arrest after colliding with another youngster as they played on the sand on Tuesday.
Officials said it is believed Kai suffered a blow to the head in the collision with another boy.
He was revived at the scene by paramedics, following initial assistance from fellow beachgoers, but died in hospital in Alicante on Wednesday afternoon.
Yesterday around 60 well-wishers gathered at the spot where the younster collapsed to leave flowers and tributes to him.
Kai’s mother Nicola Fawcett, who is originally from Doncaster, works as a waitress at a restaurant in La
‘Fell after blow to the head’
Zenia in Orihuela Costa near where he collapsed. She was too distressed to join the group, although her partner Pete Short attended.
A British friend of Miss Fawcett, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I’m still in shock about what happened. You never expect something like this to happen during a children’s kick-around.’
In a statement, town hall officials in Orihuela confirmed the dead boy was British and admitted the beach’s local lifeguard service had been suspended the day before the tragedy.
It said: ‘Orihuela Town Hall wishes to express its utmost condolences over the loss of the child, of British origin, as a result of a collision with another youngster.
‘The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon on Cala Bosque beach in La Zenia. Attempts were made to revive the boy before local police arrived on the scene ten minutes after the incident with a Civil Guard patrol.
‘Those attempts continued both after the police arrived and the two ambulances arrived, one a basic life service ambulance and the other an ambulance belonging to the Valencian Health Service.
‘Health professionals managed to stabilise the youngster who was transferred to Quiron Hospital in Torrevieja before being taken by air ambulance to Alicante General Hospital.
‘The incident happened during medium season and the coastal lifeguard and rescue service had ended after Easter on April 2.
‘We deeply regret the youngster’s loss and offer our condolences to his family.’
Councillor Rafael Almagro indicated the collision with the other boy had been at head height.
He said: ‘It appears the boy was playing with some friends on the beach and fell after receiving a blow to the head.
‘He was quickly assisted by local police and Civil Guard. Health professionals arrived in a period of approximately 20 minutes.’
He added: ‘This is a tragic accident. The detail of exactly what happened is still under investigation and the Civil Guard is preparing the appropriate reports.’
A spokesman for a regional emergency response coordination centre said: ‘We were alerted at 5.42pm on Tuesday. We were informed a boy was in cardiac arrest at the beach in La Zenia.’