A 52-year-old British man died after he fell out of a pram during a charity fundraising event on New Year’s Day. The event was a race in which contestants push each other around in strollers as they dash to the finish line. It was supposed to be harmless fun. Instead, it ended in tragedy for Francis O’Sullivan, who went by the name Titch.
O’Sullivan and his two companions were dressed up as World War II pilots. The pram was decorated as a Supermarine Spitfire (a British fighter aircraft used during World War II).
One eyewitness said that O’Sullivan’s pram was traveling “a lot quicker” than the pram in front of them. “It all happened so quickly and then I saw blood on the floor,” the witness reported.
According to police, O’Sullivan suffered a severe head injury when the pram crashed. He was air lifted to a local hospital where he later died.
The deceased’s sister, Jeanette O’Sullivan, was heartbroken when the news first broke. She paid homage to her brother on Facebook, with a status update that read:
“My beautiful brother, tragic accident whilst competing in the Sutton Valence pram race. Love you always and forever in our thoughts, a great Brother, Dad and Uncle. May you sleep tight and smile down on us. Sweet dreams. Love you for ever, your family xx.”
It’s one of those things where it wasn’t anybody’s fault; it really was just a freak accident. But perhaps there is a little bit of a silver lining.
For instance, O’Sullivan died doing something that he loved and believed in. That’s more than what a lot of people can say. Because of his death, he’s also shed a lot more light on the pram race itself, and has likely inspired more donations in his name.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the O’Sullivan family. Rest in peace, Titch.
Photo courtesy of Pete Edgeler at Flickr Creative Commons.