Man dies after paintball

[Chief Wiggum]

Man dies in bucks day paintball tragedy


A MAN has died after a paintballing bucks party in North Geelong.

The 39-year-old Point Cook man collapsed in a car at service station a few hundred metres from Extreme Indoor Paintball.

The Geelong Advertiser has been told the man was hit in the chest as he battled his mates in the game. He was not wearing a protector on his chest.
The man died about 3.45pm on Saturday.
Police believe the man suffered a heart attack. The coroner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Extreme Indoor Paintball operator Daniel Filipovic said he welcomed any investigation into the death. He said paintballs were not designed to cause serious injury.

[roreybellows]

This just in...

Possible slight bruises now cause heart attacks.

[Greg.C]

like i said the fact he had prolly just finished doing more physical activity and had more adrenalin in his body then ever in the last 20 years of his life, so getting shot in the chest really would be quite insignificant in the cause of death.

but hey just my opinion on the situation.

[XLR8]

Thats not good for our sport,

Flip i hope all goes well for you man.

[Yeuie]

My condolensces to the bloke's family.

But I seriously doubt any paintball could give someone a heart attack, there is always a history behind people who die of heart attacks whether it be stress, diet, high blood pressure, physical fitness and family history.

[Grant]

A death like this no matter what the reason is never good for the sport or peoples business.

[Chief Wiggum]

It just frustrates me how the media word things like this. This could have happened at any field, bad luck Flip, but I am sure all goes well.

Have to wait and see what the coroner finds. That could make or break us.

[Deadeye]

Thats bad news. There's no way the impact from the ball on your chest could cause a heart attack though. Sooner the coroners report comes the better.

[N3B]

I doubt it's a make or break incident, the media beat up will have long term effects tho.
I hope that all at XIP are coping with this and continue to show the public how great our sport is.

[wezzel 11]

This really can't be good for paintball.

But i also doubt that a paintball to the chest would directly cause a heart attack

[GNR_Hexen]

First and foremost. My condolences to the man's family.

Please remember there's more than just paintball involved here.

Secondly let’s hope this gets sorted out quick smart. I agree with other posters. It seems unlikely that a paintball hit could cause a heart attack. More than likely it would have been a pre-existing condition. Having said that I doubt any of us are doctors?

[uptheguts]

I would have died many a times if getting hit the chest could cause this

[eddahenry]

i would be more inclined to ask his mates what they gave him at the start of the day
theres many drugs that when combined with high activatie levels cause theses kind of problems
and unfortantly are almost impossible to tell if they have taken them

[Birdman]

very unfortunate for this guys family and clearly a freak incident rather than anything related to a paintball impact on a healthy individual.

hopefully its not a slow news day - the media love taking things out of context for stuff like this.

[Royale]

As stated, the news report is very misleading. By infering that he was not wearing a chest protector they've already attributed blame to the paintball shot itself. And if the coroners report vindicates paintball in general, I guarantee we won't see a follow up story.

Condolences to the family and hope things turn out well for XIP and Paintball in general.

[PAINTBALL PETE]

i would be more inclined to ask his mates what they gave him at the start of the day
theres many drugs that when combined with high activatie levels cause theses kind of problems
and unfortantly are almost impossible to tell if they have taken them

There would be a big possability that it could be the case.
At a field in NSW 2 years ago A punters wife asked the Reff if he had seen her husband, they finally found him on field behind a barricade unfortuneatly dead.
The coroners report stated heart attack, the field is still operating and there procedures were not found wanting.
Yes this unfortunate thing has happened but i am confident that this will not effect Flip or XIP.


me

[paolo]

Very sad indeed...:cry:

Don't want to sound cold but it will probably mean an increase in bookings for paintball fields in the area...

Exactly the same thing happened at a field in Essex in the UK where I am told the guy died of a heart attack actually during a game and it was widely reported on the front pages of all the local papers.

As a result of the publicity the local field was inundated in enquiries and was booked out for the next six months.

Most of the public are smart enough to know that people unfortunately die all the time from heart attacks and that it could happen anywhere and at anytime. Heart disease is the biggest killer in our society. Paintball may have been a contributing factor on the day but often lifestyle choices like smoking, exercise and diet are major causes.

Very well commented on by the local field operator (Dan Filipovic) in the interview I must say in what must be a difficult and sensitive situation.

pm

[Flip]

Hi all,

Well I guess what I thought wasnt going to be big news is now due to the media jumping on a story.
Guys here is how it is.
A group like any other came and played paintball at my venue. From completion of play to them leaving was approx 30 min. In that time I spoke with each individual and at no stage did anyone look or complain about being ill or having any issues. In fact all were laughing as punter groups do saying how much fun they had. The group left and shortly after leaving the man in question complained to a friend he was having trouble breathing and they pulled over into a service station where he collapsed and died.
The reason its such a story it seems is that he has a welt on his chest..played paintball...and died. Put that all together and its a great story.
As the police said it appears to be a heart attack but as usual there is a autopsy to conduct and will be done. From our end all is sweet. We run a great operation with awsome gear and trained staff. Guns that we crono only at about 270.Water is provided. Breaks every 20 min and a smile on the faces of the people playing.
Its not great as people are looking at paintball however there is nothing we can or would do any different. I am sure and hope as soon as the autopsy is done this will all die down and things return to normal for us all......cheers :thumbsup:

[Crazy]

Sincere condolances to this mans family. Sudden loss is never an easy thing to comprehend or deal with.

I have seen people with existing heart conditions and some who didn't know they had a heart condition collapse or come close to collapsing on the field but they usually recover ok.
I have only had to call the ambulance a few times and the customer is usually just embarassed and want to get on the field again.

Lets look at this incident positivley from a paintball point of view and hope that any investigation will show more proof how safe paintball is.

[CroC]

Condolences to the family.

Yep...we're all glad things sounds alright. We're all with ya Flip. It's the media...they'll jump on anything to create a sensationalized story just to sell more papers. People die of heat exhaustion and much simpler things. I'm sure the coroner will be smart enough to know that it (a paintball hit) won't be the contributing factor.

[eddahenry]

wow just herd it on the news on sydney radio

[Souse]

Hi all,

Well I guess what I thought wasnt going to be big news is now due to the media jumping on a story.
Guys here is how it is.
A group like any other came and played paintball at my venue. From completion of play to them leaving was approx 30 min. In that time I spoke with each individual and at no stage did anyone look or complain about being ill or having any issues. In fact all were laughing as punter groups do saying how much fun they had. The group left and shortly after leaving the man in question complained to a friend he was having trouble breathing and they pulled over into a service station where he collapsed and died.
The reason its such a story it seems is that he has a welt on his chest..played paintball...and died. Put that all together and its a great story.
As the police said it appears to be a heart attack but as usual there is a autopsy to conduct and will be done. From our end all is sweet. We run a great operation with awsome gear and trained staff. Guns that we crono only at about 270.Water is provided. Breaks every 20 min and a smile on the faces of the people playing.
Its not great as people are looking at paintball however there is nothing we can or would do any different. I am sure and hope as soon as the autopsy is done this will all die down and things return to normal for us all......cheers :thumbsup:

first place I seen it was on Pb nation........and have a had a million phone calls from friends about it since its been on the radio up here

[BJM]

Flip - I hope is well and you are found to be in no way responsible for what appears to be a tragic accident
To the mans family - My Condolences
To the media - Get a freaking brain and stop doing a Micheal Moore on the world....Hrm, 2 unrelated incidents that happen ot have some similar points - lets put them together and see where that takes us.

I'm yet to see a paintball field doing anyhting that could possibly attract such a result

I hope all ends well for those involved


Ben

[CroC]

To the media - Get a freaking brain and stop doing a Micheal Moore on the world....Hrm, 2 unrelated incidents that happen ot have some similar points - lets put them together and see where that takes us.

Ben

:yes:

I know...just goes to show how ill-informed the general public are in regards to paintball...will do anything to get a story..

To the reporters in the media...

USE THE %$^#&*! SEARCH BUTTON

[Urban paintball]

Firstly a lot of my current work mates have had to go though coroner’s courts. (I’ve been lucky).

The main problem with that is that is usually two 2 years for that to happen and until them (for us anyway) everything is up it the air in relation to where blame will fall regards of the level of involvement that you had in the incident.

To the family.... I’m sorry to hear of your loss.
To the field.... Hope thing go smoothly for you, your business and staff as a result.

To flip... I would have asked your police before posting just in case they get touchy about you talking about it in am open forum. I'm sure you have.
We are advised not to talk to anyone about incidents till after to coroner’s court. (making it two years before for seek counseling??)
And anything that you said in here could be brought up in coroner’s court if discovered (not that your post said anything that I thought was wrong)

Finally
I don't see how paintball, could be linked to a heart attack.
The sudden intense exercise maybe but not a paintball hit.
And he apparently made it out of the venue under his own steam before the suspected heart attack.

[The Camo Kid]

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/01/15/10503_news.html




guys just been reading some of the comments posted on news.com.au, i would like to think the paintballers of australia are not leaving stupid comments on that article, and remind everyone that the media might be visiting this forum, if they want to make a go of the story

[PAINTBALL PETE]

I don't see how paintball, could be linked to a heart attack.

You have'nt Reffed a Major Tourny yet have you.


me

[ghostrider]

The only way this could effect paintball is to set in the conditions of play (like with bungee jumping etc) if you have a heart condition or similar then you will not be allowed to participate.
Thatll be the worst case scenario.
Remember paintball has been around long enough for the politicians etc to have their kids possibly try this sport and i think anyone that has taken their kids or teenage kids to play would find paintball harmless as long as the rules are followed just like any sport.

[Crazy]

Now it's on the Yahoo site
http://au.yahoo.com/

[Chief Wiggum]

Firstly a lot of my current work mates have had to go though coroner’s courts. (I’ve been lucky).

The main problem with that is that is usually two 2 years for that to happen and until them (for us anyway) everything is up it the air in relation to where blame will fall regards of the level of involvement that you had in the incident.

To the family.... I’m sorry to hear of your loss.
To the field.... Hope thing go smoothly for you, your business and staff as a result.

To flip... I would have asked your police before posting just in case they get touchy about you talking about it in am open forum. I'm sure you have.
We are advised not to talk to anyone about incidents till after to coroner’s court. (making it two years before for seek counseling??)
And anything that you said in here could be brought up in coroner’s court if discovered (not that your post said anything that I thought was wrong)

Finally
I don't see how paintball, could be linked to a heart attack.
The sudden intense exercise maybe but not a paintball hit.
And he apparently made it out of the venue under his own steam before the suspected heart attack.

Hopefully it wont make it to coroners court. Matter should be resolved without any drama.

[SPOOK_42]

damn that sucks, my condolences to the man's family, and my wishes to flip but i have to agree with a few of the other guys.
what did he have or his mates gave him to accelerate his heart rate to such and extent or what were the other reasons that this guy lost his life?
i gotta say i hate the fact that the media immediately looks at our sport and labels it as a violent and sadistic pastime

[SonnenKinder]

An interesting side note, a similar thing happened at a go kart rally i raced in a year ago.
They did an investigation, and lo and behold, it was found that:

"...Sports demanding a high degree of intense concentration can inflict sufficient levels of stress to cause asthma attacks, anxiety attacks, and rarely, coronary problems."

Unfortunately, this guy most likely loved the experience he had at the field, but this event, and his death will most likely be used to vilify the sport of paint ball.

It angers me that what is a sad, regrettable and unfortunate occurrence will be used as a vehicle to further anti-paint ball lobbyists, and their own self righteousness.


Statistically, there are more injuries in chess than paint ball.


but, i sound like I'm preaching, and this forum is one for the already converted.


it's not for us to descend to the level of 'us-versus-them', like the aforementioned anti-paint ballers. Let's do something about it.


There was a charity event for Tobias. Is this much different?

We should do something.


Does anyone else agree, or am i just turning into a humanitarian in my old age?

If this goes ahead, i'll gladly donate.


Anyone else?

-SN

[russ]

An interesting side note, a similar thing happened at a go kart rally i raced in a year ago.
They did an investigation, and lo and behold, it was found that:

"...Sports demanding a high degree of intense concentration can inflict sufficient levels of stress to cause asthma attacks, anxiety attacks, and rarely, coronary problems."

Unfortunately, this guy most likely loved the experience he had at the field, but this event, and his death will most likely be used to vilify the sport of paint ball.

It angers me that what is a sad, regrettable and unfortunate occurrence will be used as a vehicle to further anti-paint ball lobbyists, and their own self righteousness.

Statistically, there are more injuries in chess than paint ball.

but, i sound like I'm preaching, and this forum is one for the already converted.

it's not for us to descend to the level of 'us-versus-them', like the aforementioned anti-paint ballers. Let's do something about it.

There was a charity event for Tobias. Is this much different?

We should do something.

Does anyone else agree, or am i just turning into a humanitarian in my old age?

If this goes ahead, i'll gladly donate.

Anyone else?

-SN

Would be nice to do something for the family, i for one would donate as well does anyone have any details to contact?
Because once they figure out it wasn't a paintball i think they would be touched by the guesture.

[SonnenKinder]

That is exactly my thought, Russ.

Paint ball is one of the most unique communities I've ever been a part of.
You can turn up alone, and after four hours of play, you come away with drinking buddies at the very least.
It is this sense of community i love most about paint ball.
It is this that i think is the most dramatically different than the general public perception.
It needs to change. And it can. Starting with your pocket.

People vilify our sport, but we are not the gun-toting nuts they used to call 'survivalists' back in the late 80's. Far from it.

I, for one, would like to do something.


I suggest perhaps the Mods, or Flip himself orchestrates this. This is how we raised funds on another site, www.zombiehunters.org.
We raised over 10k for Hurricane Katrina.

A Group Donation seems to be fitting, if the head-sheds agree.

Would a Charity Event be in poor taste?

-SN

[russ]

That is exactly my thought, Russ.

Paint ball is one of the most unique communities I've ever been a part of.
You can turn up alone, and after four hours of play, you come away with drinking buddies at the very least.
It is this sense of community i love most about paint ball.
It is this that i think is the most dramatically different than the general public perception.
It needs to change. And it can. Starting with your pocket.

People vilify our sport, but we are not the gun-toting nuts they used to call 'survivalists' back in the late 80's. Far from it.

I, for one, would like to do something.

I suggest perhaps the Mods, or Flip himself orchestrates this. This is how we raised funds on another site, www.zombiehunters.org.
We raised over 10k for Hurricane Katrina.

A Group Donation seems to be fitting, if the head-sheds agree.

Would a Charity Event be in poor taste?

-SN

Poor taste...no i don't think so.
Just a group of people who like the man in question loved playing paintball and would like to help out in what you would say is one of the most trying times of anyones lives.
The guesture would be welcomed, i think anyway.

[SonnenKinder]

well, I'll start the donations at $100, if the mods' accept this idea.

[russ]

i will pm Bill and see if he could chase it up. :thumbsup:

[roreybellows]

The media would lap it up..

I think its a great idea to donate a few dollars or whatever.

[J.B.]

Firstly, condolences to the man's family and those affected by this loss.

Secondly, a charity event/ donation drive would be an awesome thing to do. It would go some small way to help the family get back on their feet, show a united, supportive front from the paintball community and assist in addressing media backlash from this being involved with paintball activities.

Point me in the donating direction, I've got $50

- JB

[Blobby]

does anyone think that by jumping in and giving money it might look like an admission of some guilt??? legal help here anyone.....studio 54????....could this set a pressedent???

[SonnenKinder]

This is probably the best way to do one good thing, and inadvertently, achieve another.

by donating and raising funds, we assist the family in their time of need. And it is need I've been present in this situation. you end up having to take out bank loans, borrow and beg from friends and family. All just to give someone you haven't come to terms with losing yet, a goodbye that might come close to doing them justice. Not only is it demeaning and almost as destroying as the event itself, but depending on the loan, you've got to repay the bank every month for seven years, never having enough time to heal before you receive another reminder of your loss in the mail.
Oh Lord, believe me, even if you [I]do[I] have life insurance, those policies are full of loopholes, and some employ lawyers to escape their financial responsibility to those left in the wake of a sudden death.

Sorry, just venting.

If given the chance to make the grief and transition easier, we should.


Not to mention, this was very doubtfully the fault of the sport itself. Given this possibility, banding together and doing our bit to take care of the family is probably the best positive image paint ball would have had in my memory. Heaven forfend people might actually take notice. But that is beside the point.

I work at a printing firm. I think if people donate enough money, we should work out some form of limited-edition hopper sticker, sponsored by Bills.

An idea, no?

[SonnenKinder]

Blobby,
If the field itself made a charitable donation, it may be considered 'hush money' by cynical media, but if some of the paint ball community here, with people from Perth, to cairns, to as far away as Canada, acted as one and made a group donation, there could be no insinuation of any underhanded motives.
We are hundreds of different people, in hundreds of different locations. There could be no protest of any other motive but goodwill and charity. I dont think there is a bad way to spin this, really. One person, perhaps, a group of individuals, it wouldn't stand up.

I hope. It hasn't gotten that bad, has it?

[Chief Wiggum]

does anyone think that by jumping in and giving money it might look like an admission of some guilt??? legal help here anyone.....studio 54????....could this set a pressedent???

Exactly what I was thinking. Does it look like we are buying silence, admission of guilt etc.

Before people say it, I KNOW we are not. But could people see it as so or am I just being pedantic?

[russ]

Would be nice to do something for the family, i for one would donate as well does anyone have any details to contact?
Because once they figure out it wasn't a paintball i think they would be touched by the guesture.


Exactly what I was thinking. Does it look like we are buying silence, admission of guilt etc.

Before people say it, I KNOW we are not. But could people see it as so or am I just being pedantic?

As i said before it won't be long before they figure out it wasn't a paintball and it would be nice if we could show our support.

[Blobby]

sonner....i now like chief said it is nto a buy out....but the guy dies of a heart attack......lots of people die of a heart attack....and i sure alot of them may have even played ball ......so do we donate to all thier families too?????.......a friend of mine died fo a heart attack whislt driving her ford falcon......i didnt hear of ford or any car dealer donating money to her family......just seams a bit silly to me...death is a daily thing.....many die every day.......it part of life.....the last part yes but still part of it....

[SonnenKinder]

i think we are justified to feel cynical of a general populace that is cynical of us, Chief.

But, by the same token, it didnt stand up at the track two months later. the widow became a life member, and she still works in the canteen from time to time.
People *still* go out of thier way to help her. it's amazing.
She donates her time to the track and works there because she feels a bond with those people, and a sense of gratitude to them. We didn't have to help, but we did. Because we could, and because it was right.

It's that which makes us stand out that people judge us on.

'A man dies in a tragic paintball accident' sounds cold, but, "man dies in tragic paint ball accident, paint ball community unites and supports his widows' and family"?

well, that's just the point. It's up to us to choose which we feel comfortable with.

[Bill]

what did he have or his mates gave him to accelerate his heart rate to such and extent
Lets have no more of that sort of offensive speculation without any facts to back them up.

[Bill]

well, I'll start the donations at $100, if the mods' accept this idea.
Go for it.
What cnat we do to help this?

[Studio 54]

My opinion would be that any donation would be totally unnecessary and slighty offensive until after the cause of death has been ascertained.

I agree with Blobby that people die suddenly and senselessly everyday. It is a tragic and horrific fact of life.

If members wish to donate some $$$'s as a personal gesture, don't see a problem, but as a paintball community we should be careful. You've seen today first hand how the media can manipulate a set of facts to make a good story. A good gesture could turn nasty for the sport overnight.

I also agree with Bill and urge everyone not to speculate about what "substances" may have caused or contributed to this poor fella's alleged cardiac arrest. Please be respectful of the dead.

Great to see that paintballers have such big hearts - like to see the media report that.

[SonnenKinder]

Bill, PM is sent.

edit it to your liking and post it here so people know what's going on, if you'd be so kind?


-SN

[Teraustralis]

just a side note is anyone else in absolute wonder over some of the posts received by the papers news groups ?

Its a eye opener how so many people can have such a strange view of somthing that they them selves admit to having "no Idea about this dangerous sport but im sure we should ban it anyway "

Wow makes ya wonder huh

[Rory]

i seriously doubt that paintball would have anything to do with this poor blokes death, like most here have said...

on the same note, flip, i sure as hell hope you showed him and his mates a damn good time playing paintball!

[shivers12]

I hate to say it but i have to agree with those who think it might be taken in bad taste or insult to the family.
God i hope i am wrong and the family see it as what it is, a heart felt show of support by the paintball community, but as you can see from the articles being posted by media, anything can be turned around to sound bad, and unfortunatly Bad news sells alot more than heart felt support showed for people and their families.
At the same time, why do the media have to be involved if people want to donate to the family, whouldnt it be more heart felt if it was just done without any thought of how good we as a community can look to the media.

If you are going to do it, just do it, and leave it out of the spot light, and take pride in the fact that you did, not how good you preceived by others.

[N3B]

.If you are going to do it, just do it, and leave it out of the spot light, and take pride in the fact that you did, not how good you preceived by others.
QFT

[Birdman]

i think for all the best intentions of those here that are thinking of donating money - keep in mind that best intentions are not always accepted as such. The last thing the family probably want to hear about right now is paintball. As pointed out, it may also be construed in the wrong way. And further, no all families need financial assistance so the cash may be completely unnecessary (again as nice a gesture as it may seem). They are nice thoughts but maybe its a better idea just to leave the family to deal with it in their own way. Flip will be just fine - its clearly not through their fault.

[SonnenKinder]

giving money for no other reason but to increase your profile is advertising.

advertising off the sad and unfortunate death of a man, on a bucks turn, is something i couldn't support.

It's not the amount or the result of giving money that matters, but the actual act of giving itself.

If conventional media want to take it the wrong way, we've already lost. They would have had a field day with just the information they have now.
Doing something good and having people twist it to their own gain doesn't negate the fact you still did something good.

Does it?

[Rory]

i think for all the best intentions of those here that are thinking of donating money - keep in mind that best intentions are not always accepted as such. The last thing the family probably want to hear about right now is paintball. As pointed out, it may also be construed in the wrong way. And further, no all families need financial assistance so the cash may be completely unnecessary (again as nice a gesture as it may seem). They are nice thoughts but maybe its a better idea just to leave the family to deal with it in their own way. Flip will be just fine - its clearly not through their fault.


very very true... well said

[Chief Wiggum]

I think we will leave it at that. If people want to make a collection, PM Bill. Closed.