Balcony push death was 'misadventure' - coroner

A bricklayer died after he was pushed by his best friend from the top floor of a driving range and landed on his head, an inquest heard.

Conner Groom, 22, had been at Topgolf, in Chigwell, Essex, for a work Christmas party when he was shoved over a safety net and fell 3.7m (12ft) in December 2021.

He suffered a traumatic spinal injury from the push - and died in hospital a month later.

Essex senior coroner Lincoln Brookes ruled that Mr Groom died as a result of misadventure borne out of “inebriated but not malicious horseplay”.

The inquest in Chelmsford heard Mr Groom's group, from a bricklaying company, had been “drinking heavily” after travelling via coach from Weeley, near Clacton-on-Sea, to Topgolf on 21 December 2021.

They arrived at 19:00 GMT and drank alcohol in the bar, before being taken to the first floor of the two-storey venue an hour later.

The party started “having a laugh and a joke” by pushing each other onto a safety net at the edge of their golfing bay, the inquest heard.

Det Insp Lydia George told the hearing that staff had warned the group on several occasions to stop “messing around”.

She said Mr Groom, from Clacton-on-Sea, had been shoved onto the safety netting twice and he himself had pushed one of his friends prior to his fatal fall.

As Mr Groom lined up to take a shot at 22:08, his best friend Ben Gardner told a member of the group that he was going to push him, Ms George added.

Mr Gardner then came "running from behind" Mr Groom and pushed him after the latter struck a golf ball.

He tumbled over the safety netting and fell 3.7m (12ft), landing face first on the driving range below, the hearing was told.

The inquest was told Mr Groom’s foot had become momentarily stuck on the net as he fell, leaving him with “no control whatsoever over how he landed”.

Security guard Dion McKenzie said Mr Gardner had rushed downstairs and was saying “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” repeatedly next to Mr Groom, who was laid on the floor and bleeding from his nose.

Mr Groom was taken to the Royal London Hospital that night but died at the facility on 25 January 2022 from a traumatic cervical spine injury.

His friend was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm without intent, but the charges were later dropped.

Recording a conclusion of misadventure, Mr Brookes said all present at the work party were "significantly inebriated".

He said: "There were undoubtedly high spirits throughout the evening - lots of horseplay, joking around and fun. This did get out of hand."

The coroner said it was "perhaps significant" the group were not warned by Topgolf staff that pushing people could result in their removal from the venue.

He added: "The last thing Mr Gardner wanted was his friend to be hurt.

"I entirely accept this was due to good spirits and there was nothing malicious."

Mr Brookes said alcohol had "severely impaired" Mr Gardner's judgement.

Graham Jarvis, a health and safety officer at Epping Forest District Council, told the hearing that Topgolf had improved its staff training around potential health risks following Mr Groom's death.

Guests who pushed people onto the safety netting would now be immediately removed, he added.

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