Word of warning - serious eye wound in safe zone

[rosco290]

Air ambulance wasn't the first on scene. There was a single paramedic on site first. As the it looks like the site has already been mentioned on Facebook I'll confirm it was absolute airsoft, Maidenhead.

 

[Randymanpipe]

Horrible to hear such a story. Every site I have ever played has always been very safety concious when it comes to eye pro/safe zone. It's stupidity and carelessness like this that will end up ruining our sport for everyone. Hope the Guy's not permanently damaged. Although buy the sound of the circumstances don't sound good.

 

[Twice19]

Good thing there was someone (albeit a player, not a marshal) who was there quick enough to help.

Goes to show that even in that 'Safe' Zone, eye pro is a good idea. I know a few people who wear Shooting Glasses in the SZ. After this I'm thinking it'a good idea to do the same.

All it takes is one accident.

Hope there's no permanent damage to the poor kid.

 

[rosco290]

It's stupidity and carelessness like this that will end up ruining our sport for everyone.

This is true. it raises a lot of questions. Should the sites be over 16, or over 18 only. Should sites have to go through some sort of testing or meet a certain standard before they can let young people play? Accidents happen, its the nature of any sport, especially one where you are shooting things at each other. In this particular scenario the guy who got shot should have cleared his rifle properly before taking it into the safe zone and the other one should never have pulled the trigger aiming at someone in the safe zone but like I say the relaxed attitude filters down to the young lot who might not be as switched on as some of the older guys.

 

[Aunty Pasty]

I feel really bad for the kid. Hope he recovers from this ok.

 

[n1ckh]

I visited one site for a Halloween game last year. The marshalls were good but just because there was no roof on the safe zone, people were dry firing so I'm glad I put on face protection as I got hit on the mesh mask

That's the only site I've been to where no one had said no firing in the safe zone

I sincerely hope the kid will be ok but I doubt the outcome will be good as for young kids messing around, not all parents play the sport but my boys & many others are well guided by myself & others so unless someone who plays chaperones them & rules get tightened at that site, then sadly it will continue to go downhill

 

[Twice19]

This is true. it raises a lot of questions. Should the sites be over 16, or over 18 only. Should sites have to go through some sort of testing or meet a certain standard before they can let young people play? Accidents happen, its the nature of any sport, especially one where you are shooting things at each other. In this particular scenario the guy who got shot should have cleared his rifle properly before taking it into the safe zone and the other one should never have pulled the trigger aiming at someone in the safe zone but like I say the relaxed attitude filters down to the young lot who might not be as switched on as some of the older guys.

In my experience, it's not necessarily younger players; but less experienced players. I've seen guys who are old enough to know better, doing stupid things in Airsoft because it's "just a game" and they don't realise how serious (or dangerous) it can be - just as much as seeing younger (but experienced) players being careful of these things.

I think a lot of it comes down to the marshals being switched on to what's going on at the sites, giving thorough safety briefings and explaining why these things need to be adhered to.

I'm not saying that accidents don't/won't happen - but there's always measures that can be taken to limit the chances are.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Is this the same Absolute Airsoft in this review ? http://www.airsoft-forums.co.uk/index.php/topic/25019-absolute-airsoft-reading-review/?hl=absolute

Edit: Absolute have a site in Reading and one in Maidenhead.

 

[Sitting Duck]

A terrible way to learn a lesson....

The poor victim - jeez so cruel to learn such a hard way. I will admit I have walked into Epsom Tunnels with mag still in

I could say coz the safe zone was an area of the maze, or didn't know the site properly but no I was an idiot full stop

The Marshal was straight on me - so though Epsom got some stick about lack of chrono they head Marshal was right on the ball

The site - They might have been relaxed - they might have known the hire guns were below the limit, or most 2-tones were lower fps

Just coz they didn't fully chrono every gun doesn't mean they are completely reckless - careless or forgetful perhaps

but like I said Epsom had a bit of name of hot guns but the guy was like a hawk watching people entering the safe zone

They probably had reminded players to empty mag & clear guns etc.... but alas it didn't work for the poor victim to follow these instructions

Before anyone rips me a new one - every gun should be chrono'd you silly duck

What I mean - if it was chrono'd or not - a 350 or 250fps JBBG would of still done a similar amount of damage is what I meant

I'm not defending the site - but would like to point out that hand on heart I'm sure many on here have come near to bad mishaps

probably not always following full health n safety to the letter but alas the site has got into the limelight for all wrong reasons

They can't all patrol safe zone 101% - maybe no guns or restrict guns in safe zone - I know paintball sites make you hang up the hire guns

as you exit the game area, hard to implement but perhaps a consideration to avoid/reduce the chance of it happening again ???

I dunno but the site may have failed to carry out proper checks thoroughly so will get blame as it happened and therefore they responsible

Even with a waiver - they could of - should of been supervising health n safety more thoroughly

The stupid dumb ar$e kid that fired weapon - He has gotta live with this stupid - utterly stupid mistake but should be banned from any site

Whoooaaahhh - bit harsh - uhm no - you DONT POINT A GUN AT SOMEBODY FFS - PERIOD

I thought, I assumed is how all major f*ck ups are attempted to be justified that people have f*cked up but not wanting to accept responsibility

The foolish victim has learnt a very cruel harsh lesson and quite likely won't want to go near or play airsoft again so the other kid shouldn't either

And I wouldn't wanna stand next to the shooter hoping he has learnt a tragic lesson or not

I'm not getting on my morale high horse - I really wish I wasn't reading and typing this crap

There are 3 stupid parties here and all played a part in this tragic accident

Maybe the age needs to raise to 16 or heck even 18 as you have to be 18 to purchase a 2-tone IF

I hope not coz younger players are good for the sport and tbh provide steady income for sites too

Alas - I just wish it never happened but think we all need to remind ourselves of safety and be a bit more alert to other players around us even more now

None of this crap is going to matter to the poor (dumb) victim, lapsed site's safety checks, stupid - f*cking stupid shooter

I'm not blaming any one person in all this - they are all to blame but what a harsh tragic lesson to learn

Hope the victim can lead a normal life with only one eye at full vision so very sad

 

[skarra333]

This is horrible.

Such sites should be named and shamed - and IMHO - if they are chronically unsafe, reported to the HSE/Councils and hopefully shut down.

Maybe it is time that there should be an ISO style minimum safety standard sites could/(should be required to) aspire to?

 

[callumbagshaw]

Hope the guy is OK.

Not what the sport needs. Unfortunately, as the number of people increases, so does the number of morons. Shame.

 

[Sacarathe]

Good thing there was someone (albeit a player, not a marshal) who was there quick enough to help.

Goes to show that even in that 'Safe' Zone, eye pro is a good idea. I know a few people who wear Shooting Glasses in the SZ. After this I'm thinking it'a good idea to do the same.

All it takes is one accident.

Hope there's no permanent damage to the poor kid.

Bookmarked this post.

I feel really bad for the kid. Hope he recovers from this ok.

All things considered, i'd feel worse for the guy holding the gun, at the short range we're discussing, with a 450 fps gun, he had to have been pointing it exactly where it went, furthermore, he didnt follow "gun's always loaded unless you actually see that it isnt", guy could need a lot of counselling if he's older than 14.

 

[Fumps]

I really don't think its got anything to do with age, its just down to lapsed safety checks & idiocy.

Automatically banning kids under a certain ages just because one kid is being a knob is a knee jerk reaction that makes us no better than people who would ban all combat sport because they don't understand it. If some chav points a GBB pistol at a police officer this forum is full of messages saying "You cant ban this sport just because that kid acts like an arse" but here we are saying the exact same thing.

Its a horrible thing to happen to anybody but banning an age group just because of the actions of one kid is just daft. the correct safety checks should be there to stop this stuff from happening, by the looks of things this was going to happen either way, its just a shame it did. but to react with banning sound like an unfair witch hunt by people who really should know better.

From a perspective of a parent, I really hope the kid is ok. Its horrible for everyone involved

***added the last bit because i hit the mouse with my elbow and posted by mistake***

 

[Sico]

I just had my first game yesterday at Blitz CQB and reading this terrifies me. All the best for the poor kid, I wish he makes a full recovery.

 

[Hibernator]

Terrible for all the people involved. I wear full face and goggles when playing, but I always wear ESS glasses when in the safe zone.

Back in my paintball days, everyone coming back into the safezones had to have a barrel plug and/or barrel condom on their marker. When I started airsofting, I noticed that there isn't really an equivalent and dropping out the mag on the way in leaves a bb in the barrel. I think nearly everywhere I've played there are usually marshals on the way back in shouting to remove mags and fire a couple of shots to clear the gun. But I've always figured that with that many people wandering back in, someone would at some point make an honest mistake and that an accident could happen.

Let's hope he makes a quick recovery!

 

[Sacarathe]

We should be equally concerned for the mental health of the person that was holding the gun (whether they pull the trigger or not). Improperly handled incident's like this can lead to suicide, and that's worse than ocular impairment. Just look at the recent news case where a girl accused a boy of rape, and the school spoke to him about it instead of the police, and he hanged himself, despite for all appearances in the media that rape had not occurred.

 

[rosco290]

Is this the same Absolute Airsoft in this review ? http://www.airsoft-forums.co.uk/index.php/topic/25019-absolute-airsoft-reading-review/?hl=absolute

Edit: Absolute have a site in Reading and one in Maidenhead.

It is, they have two sites

 

[Comicbook hero]

This is true. it raises a lot of questions. Should the sites be over 16, or over 18 only.

I take my daughter to every game and she is now 13. She would be gutted if the age limit was raised and she couldn't go. Especially as some of the worst behaviour I have seen comes from older people messing about with their mates. Indeed the only people I have seen being thrown off site have been middle aged men.

However, before we went to any games I ran my daughter through basic firearms safety, showing her how to safely handle an AEG. This was because I was surprised when I first went on my own that there was no practical demonstrations only a verbal safety brief. It is something she has remembered.

As a hobby that regularly comes under attack from those that don't understand it, I always wonder why some sites are run so poorly. Basic stuff like first aid seems to be hit and miss and there is no appetite for showing / training new gamers on how to handle weapons safely. Inexperienced gamers can turn up, rent an AEG firing at 350FPS and are pretty much left to get on with it. Used incorrectly at the wrong time and they can cause massive injury like this. Sad really.

I hope all those involved are OK and top marks to the OP for helping out.

CBH

 

[rosco290]

The site - They might have been relaxed - they might have known the hire guns were below the limit, or most 2-tones were lower fps

Just coz they didn't fully chrono every gun doesn't mean they are completely reckless -

The stupid dumb ar$e kid that fired weapon - He has gotta live with this stupid - utterly stupid mistake but should be banned from any site

Whoooaaahhh - bit harsh - uhm no - you DONT POINT A GUN AT SOMEBODY FFS - PERIOD

I thought, I assumed is how all major f*ck ups are attempted to be justified that people have f*cked up but not wanting to accept responsibility

The foolish victim has learnt a very cruel harsh lesson and quite likely won't want to go near or play airsoft again so the other kid shouldn't either

And I wouldn't wanna stand next to the shooter hoping he has learnt a tragic lesson or not

I'm not getting on my morale high horse - I really wish I wasn't reading and typing this crap

There are 3 stupid parties here and all played a part in this tragic accident

I agree, chrono'd or not, even about 150 fps at that range would probably have had a pretty bad outcome. I was just trying to set out how I felt about the place from that start. One of the first regulars I spoke to quite happily told me, 'They don't chrono here, they say they do random tests through the day but I've never seen it happen'.

I spoke with the kid that fired the weapon for quite a while after the incident while my mate was dealing with the victim. One of those things where young kids (we're talking maybe 12 years old at the most) weren't properly supervised and some poor sod has to deal with the consequences.

I agree that it took 3 sets of people failing to do what they should (or shouldn't) have done. I wonder how much longer this site will operate for and how it will impact their business? Does anyone regulate sites to make sure the people operating them are safe to do so or can anyone just buy/rent some land and crack on with it?

 

[rosco290]

I take my daughter to every game and she is now 13. She would be gutted if the age limit was raised and she couldn't go. Especially as some of the worst behaviour I have seen comes from older people messing about with their mates. Indeed the only people I have seen being thrown off site have been middle aged men.

However, before we went to any games I ran my daughter through basic firearms safety, showing her how to safely handle an AEG. This was because I was surprised when I first went on my own that there was no practical demonstrations only a verbal safety brief. It is something she has remembered.

As a hobby that regularly comes under attack from those that don't understand it, I always wonder why some sites are run so poorly. Basic stuff like first aid seems to be hit and miss and there is no appetite for showing / training new gamers on how to handle weapons safely. Inexperienced gamers can turn up, rent an AEG firing at 350FPS and are pretty much left to get on with it. Used incorrectly at the wrong time and they can cause massive injury like this. Sad really.

I hope all those involved are OK and top marks to the OP for helping out.

CBH

I wouldn't like to see kids banned, proper supervision and intstruction is the way to go. My nephew is very keen to get involved, his dad is ex forces as am I so weapon safety is rooted pretty deep and being passed on to him. By posting that I wasn't saying it was my opinion but I wouldn't mind betting its what some people would want. But then if it was two adults this had happened with surely they wouldn't say 'Ban all adults from airsoft....kids only'