A China University of Technology cheerleader has died of injuries sustained in a fall while practicing a stunt on Saturday, Hsinchu police said yesterday.
Feng Shu-hui (馮書慧), 19, is the nation’s first cheerleading fatality. She was hurt as the team was practicing a basket toss, in which three cheerleaders throw a fourth straight up into the air and catch him or her on the way down.
Prosecutors said Feng was thrown 3m into the air, but was not caught properly and struck her head on the gym floor, which was not covered by a safety mattress. She suffered massive head injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital, but died on Monday.
Photo courtesy of the China University of Technology
China University of Technology chief secretary Tien Yao-yuan (田耀遠) said the school was trying to calm students over the accident and would observe two minutes of silence in honor of Feng at its anniversary festivities on Sunday.
Hsinchu District Prosecutor Liao Chi-tsun (廖啟村), who is leading an investigation into the accident, said yesterday that cheerleading coach Lin Ching-hsiang (林慶祥) had been questioned over the accident and released on NT$50,000 bail.
Prosecutors said Lin had speculated that the other cheerleaders might not have caught Feng because it was the first time they were practicing throwing her 3m into the air instead of the normal 2.5m.
The prosecutors said Lin told them he had not noticed the -absence of the safety mattress.
Wang Chun-chuan (王俊權), director of the Ministry of Education’s physical education department, said yesterday that “the university authorities are liable for the student’s death,” because there are strict regulations for cheerleading and similar activities.
The rules require stunts practiced or performed by cheerleaders to go no higher than 3m, and a safety mattress must be used during practices, competitions or performances, Wang said.
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