HGP Nightly News – Serious questions are now being raised about safety at community recreational facilities after a seven-year-old boy was killed when a goalpost collapsed on him at the Swan ball field along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The tragedy, which unfolded during a football event, has left a family devastated and has sparked concern over whether proper checks, maintenance and safeguards were in place at a venue being used by children and families.
Dead is Michael Hyderkhan of Swan Village. Reports indicate that the incident occurred at about 20:00 hrs, shortly after the conclusion of a football match, when several children reportedly entered the field and began playing near one of the goalposts. It was during that time that the structure suddenly toppled, striking the child. Michael was rushed to the Diamond Regional Hospital, but despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries about 30 minutes after arriving there.
The child’s mother, Shenella Hyderkhan, said the family had been at a floodlight football game and explained that the boy’s father was among the players. Still trying to come to grips with the loss, she said, “We were at a floodlight football game and his father is a player,” before adding, “Right now I am in disbelief. I still can’t process this.” Her words reflect the shock and heartbreak now gripping a family whose evening at a community event ended in unimaginable tragedy.
The incident has since intensified calls for improved safety standards at recreational facilities, with We Invest in Nationhood Member of Parliament Nandranie Singh raising concern about the condition and upkeep of such spaces. She noted that the sand-filled field and waterlogged conditions may have contributed to the instability of the goalpost, and stressed the need for proper installation, routine inspections and accountability. As a post-mortem examination is expected to determine the exact cause of death.
