The family of a 6-year-old girl who died after a badminton racquet snapped and pierced her skull are suing its manufacturer, claiming a simple safety measure could have prevented the tragedy.
Lucy Morgan was on a family trip in the United States state of Maine when, while playing
badminton with her 10-year-old brother, the shaft of the racquet came loose from her sibling’s wooden handle and struck her in the head, piercing her skull. She died four days later.
More than two years after the incident, her family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Massachusetts-based Franklin Sports, which made the racquet.
The complaint, filed in York County, Maine, alleged the wooden handle and metal stem were not adequately secured, claiming the adhesive connecting the pieces was defective and no secondary restraint was in place to keep the shaft attached as a back-up.
The lawsuit also alleged the manufacturer failed to adequately warn customers the metal stem could separate during regular use.
The family’s lawyer, Charles P. Hehmeyer, told WCVB News the case was a “parent’s worst nightmare”.
“The Morgan family was enjoying an idyllic summer vacation here in Maine when they lost Lucy due to what we allege was a dangerous and defective piece of sports equipment,” Hehmeyer said.
“We are committed to obtaining justice for Lucy by holding Franklin Sports accountable.
“We want to ensure these racquets are manufactured in a way where this type of tragedy never occurs again.”
The 6-year-old travelled to Maine with her parents Jesse and Bethany and siblings Silas, Shiloh and Atticus.
Maine state police said she suffered an “unintentional injury from her 10-year-old brother”, while her family said she was taken to hospital by helicopter.
Lucy had part of her skull removed in surgery to relieve the pressure and flatlined on the operating table, but doctors were able to revive her.
Her father said the racquet shaft went deep into her brain and caused arterial bleeding, with Lucy losing brain function and being unable to breathe on her own.
Lucy later died from her injuries, leaving her family to make the 560km journey back to New Jersey without her.
