Inquest into rugby head injury death

by **Rugby Fan** Tue 19 May 2015, 3:17 pm

[I'm never sure which thread to use to post these reports, so please move this post if there's a more appropriate place]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/rowan-stringer-s-rugby-death-inquest-begins-today-1.3077245

A coroner's inquest into the 2013 death of a teen rugby player who had suffered multiple head injuries is set to begin today. Rowan Stringer, 17, died on May 12, 2013, after suffering a head injury while playing high school rugby.

The student of John McCrae Secondary School was tackled hard during a game four days earlier and flew through the air, hitting her head and neck on the ground, according to her father, Gordon Stringer.

Rowan, who was the team's captain, stayed awake for a few moments after sitting up, then fell unconscious.

She was taken to hospital where doctors tried unsuccessfully to relieve the pressure in her head. She died after her family decided to discontinue life support.

Rowan suffered multiple head injuries before the game on May 8, 2013, it was later proven.

The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Stringer's death including areas of head injury recognition in high school field sports. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths.

The inquest is expected to last 14 days and hear from 15 witnesses. It is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET at Ottawa's city hall.

Dr. Louise McNaughton Filion, the supervising coroner for the Ottawa area, will preside as inquest coroner and Mark Moors will be counsel to the coroner.