Family sees mother strangled by hijab in freak go-karting accident
MARTIN DINNEEN - April 9, 2010
The woman suffered severe neck and throat injuries after the hijab - a Muslim scarf that covers a woman's head and neck - became entangled with the go-kart while she was driving at Port Stephens Go-Karts yesterday.
Paramedics tried to save the 26-year-old, but she was pronounced dead shortly after she was flown to John Hunter Hospital by a Westpac rescue helicopter.
Detective Inspector Peter Fox of Port Stephens Local Area Command said today the longer part of the scarf was wedged down near one of the go-kart's wheel axles.
"[It appears] the scarf was pulled across her throat ... from one side of the body to the other side," he said.
Paramedics were called to the track on the corner of Marsh Road and Nelson Bay Road in Bobs Farm about 2pm after reports a woman had been strangled by an item of clothing.
Crews worked to stabilise her while the rescue helicopter flew to the site.
She was flown to hospital but died a short time later.
Family was on holiday
It is believed the woman's husband and children, who were on holiday in the Nelson Bay area, were at the track at the time, but it is unclear whether they were driving go-karts at the time.
Sharon and Scott Taylor, of Coal Point, were at the track with their young family waiting to use the karts when the accident happened.
| Police investigate after a woman died at a go-karting track in Port Stephens. Photo: Dean Osland |
Mrs Taylor said there were only two karts on the track at the time.
"The kart hit the wall and stopped and she was just slumped over," she said.
Mr Taylor said the severity of the woman's injuries was obvious as soon as paramedics began to treat her.
"Her clothing had wrapped around her neck," he said.
He said he did not hold much hope of the woman surviving when he saw how badly her neck and throat had been injured.
Police and WorkCover investigation
Detective Inspector Fox said police removed the go-kart from the site and were examining it mechanically and forensically.
Police were also speaking to the track's operators and the woman's family.
A decision on whether an inquest would be held would be made after a brief is prepared for the coroner, Detective Inspector Fox said.
WorkCover, which is responsible for the safety of amusement devices in NSW, is investigating.
A WorkCover NSW spokesman today said investigators had placed prohibition notices on two go-karts at the track.
One was for an unregistered go-kart and another for a go-kart "that did not have significant guarding", the spokesman said.
Go-karts are "classified as amusement devices that have to be registered for safety purposes", he said.
The owner of Port Stephens Go-Karts said she did not want to comment.
In February, a 15-year-old British schoolgirl was strangled to death when her scarf was caught in a go-kart wheel in Hong Kong.
In December, an 18-year-old girl in Cambridge, England, died after her scarf got stuck in a go-kart engine and strangled her.
Renowned dancer Isadora Duncan was strangled to death in 1927 when the scarf she had on was entangled in a convertible's rear wheel.
Go-kart hijab tragedy woman was 'the best'
GLENDA KWEK - April 9, 2010
The family of a young Sydney mother who died after her hijab became tangled in a go-kart says she was a devoted mother who was always willing to help people.
The comments from Mariam Dadoun's aunt came as WorkCover closed down the go-kart facility as it was unregistered.
The 26-year-old was visiting the NSW central coast with her husband and her two young sons during their school holidays.
But what was meant to be a fun holiday turned to tragedy when her hijab became entangled with the go-kart she was driving at Port Stephens Go-Karts yesterday afternoon.
She died in John Hunter Hospital after suffering severe neck and throat injuries.
Her aunt, who asked not to be named, said: "You can't describe Mariam. She was the best.
"She helped everyone. If anyone needed help, she wouldn't say no. She did a lot for everybody - for her friends, her family, her relatives."
The Yagoona housewife, who had been married for about seven years, had two boys, aged six and four, to whom she "gave all her time".
"She took her children to all the sports. She was very attached to them.
"She had been planning for this holiday with her children and her husband ... as it was the school holidays."
Detective Inspector Peter Fox, of Port Stephens Local Area Command, said today police had taken the go-kart for a mechanical examination, and would talk to the track's operators.
A report is being prepared for the coroner, Detective Inspector Fox said.
WorkCover, which is responsible for the safety of amusement devices in NSW, is also investigating.
A WorkCover NSW spokesman today said Port Stephens Go-Karts would be shut down as investigators had issued a prohibition notice on the operators of the track because the facility was unregistered.
He said earlier that prohibition notices were issued on two go-karts at the track.
One was for an unregistered go-kart and another for a go-kart "that did not have significant guarding", the spokesman said.
Go-karts are "classified as amusement devices that have to be registered for safety purposes", he said.
The spokesman said there were no specific rules on what drivers could or could not wear while using a go-kart.
But there were strict engineering rules that operators had to follow and "the operator of an amusement device has a duty of care to its passengers or patrons to ensure that their health and safety is not placed at risk of injury", the spokesman said.
The operation of such amusement devices was governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, he said.
The owner of Port Stephens Go-Karts said she did not want to comment.
In February, a 15-year-old British schoolgirl was strangled to death when her scarf was caught in a go-kart wheel in Hong Kong.
In December, an 18-year-old girl in Cambridge, England, died after her scarf got stuck in a go-kart engine and strangled her.
Renowned dancer Isadora Duncan was strangled to death in 1927 when the scarf she had on was entangled in a convertible's rear wheel.
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Du'a - http://www.duas.org
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http://www.islamic-message.net/English/index.htm
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