Three Candidates and Others Die in New Zealand in August
Bereaved Family: "Carried a Lot of Ski Equipment and Sat on Auxiliary Chair"
Last month, the family of a Korean national ski team candidate who passed away in a traffic accident during training in New Zealand raised questions about the circumstances of the accident. The family expressed frustration, saying, "Rescue efforts were hindered because of the ski equipment loaded in the accident vehicle."
On the 29th, a post by A, who identified herself as the mother of Kim (16, Gwangseong High School), who died in the accident, was uploaded on the online community 'BobaeDream.' A appealed for attention, saying, "I am posting this because my son's death is heartbreaking and infuriating."
Fire trucks and police cars were dispatched to the scene of the New Zealand traffic accident that claimed the lives of three members of the Korean ski team on the 22nd (local time). [Photo by AP Yonhap News]
On the 21st of last month (local time) around 3:15 PM, a collision occurred on a highway in the Canterbury region of New Zealand between a van and an oncoming four-wheel-drive vehicle. Three people, including two national team candidate athletes in the van and the coach driving the other vehicle, died in the accident.
A said, "I was contacted almost two hours after the accident, and the coach only kept repeating that my son had no breathing due to the traffic accident," opening up, "I asked them to do anything, to perform artificial respiration and take him to the hospital, but I heard nothing from the coach."
A claimed that rescue efforts were not carried out because the athletes and heavy ski equipment were loaded in the same vehicle. The equipment and athletes should have been separated, but the coach did not do so to save costs. A also alleged, "The coach gave false explanations about the situation at the time."
She said, "The coach said the child sat in the rear seat next to the driver and that there were no skis in the accident vehicle, but these are lies," adding, "My son sat on the middle auxiliary seat in the back because he had a lot of ski equipment, and there was a ski blade mark over 10 cm near his left ear, with his face covered in wounds."
She continued, "After investigating the accident for a week and hearing witness testimonies, it is absolutely shocking," and stated, "According to witnesses, when they arrived immediately after the accident, the children were not visible because they were buried under the luggage, and they were left unattended for over three hours without any rescue or emergency treatment."
A said, "Three years ago, my husband and I, worried about transporting ski equipment and the children together, even gave the coach a truck used by my husband, urging him to separate the equipment and children," appealing, "But overseas, where we are not watching, to save costs, they put my child in the luggage vehicle and made him sit on an auxiliary seat instead of a regular seat, causing this tragedy."
She added, "The vehicle the coach was in was a luxury 7-seater SUV with a higher rental fee, carrying only the coach, his wife, his son, and one student?four people in total?while all the ski equipment was loaded in the accident vehicle," expressing outrage, "How can a leader responsible for management and supervision do such a thing?"
It was reported that the accident vehicle was loaded with various ski equipment, including ski poles, drills and awls, and bags.
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