The Fox Hill tragedy: Lessons to be learnt

BY Dr B.J.C.Perera 

Specialist Consultant Paediatrician and Honorary Senior Fellow, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

It was indeed a catastrophe of epic proportions that occurred at the Fox Hill Supercross 2024 car racing event on 21 April 2024 in Diyathalawa. There were fatalities amongst the onlookers as well as some of the track staff and major injuries sustained by the spectators when a couple of cars went completely out of control at high speed. Seven died including a child and four Flag Marshals. There were 23 people injured, some quite severely. They were evacuated to the Diyatalawa Hospital. There probably were many contributory factors including poor visibility due to clouds of dust being made to spring up by the speeding cars. What we saw over the television screens were images of a kind of carnage that caused unbelievable chaos in the racing track itself, as well as the surrounding spectator areas. To compound matters further there was no worthwhile emergency response efforts and medical backup when the calamity occurred and some of the injured were carried away from the scene by other spectators in a most unsatisfactory and potentially harmful manner. It is generally not well appreciated that improper carrying of the injured can do more harm than good in such instances. People with neck and spinal injuries could be maimed and paralysed for life by such inappropriate transport of the afflicted.

All sporting events, especially those involving high-speed activities like car races, are exhilarating spectacles that draw crowds from far and wide. However, amidst the excitement, the thrills and even the spills, ensuring the safety of competitors as well as the spectators remains paramount. From the competitors pushing the limits to the spectators cheering them on, every individual involved must be safeguarded against potential risks. To achieve this, a meticulous approach to safety measures, including trained medical backup and comprehensive planning, is absolutely necessary. This author decided to write this piece as a sports person, in addition to having an abiding interest in Sport and Exercise Medicine.

Before delving into the necessary and mandatory arrangements that are required in such sporting scenarios, it is crucial to comprehend the inherent risks associated with sporting events, especially those involving high-speed vehicles. Car races, for instance, entail the potential for accidents resulting in injuries to drivers, pit crew members, track staff, and of course, even the spectators. The high velocities at which vehicles operate amplifies the severity of these risks. At the Fox Hill fiasco, there were many problems caused by well-meaning yet untrained individuals who even rushed to the aid of the afflicted with scant respect for their own safety with cars whizzing around at high speed.

At the outset, the absolutely essential availability and the role of trained medical backup teams should be stressed without any reservations whatsoever. All sporting events, particularly those involving motor racing, necessitate the presence of on-site medical teams, not just one but several, adequately equipped to handle various medical emergencies swiftly and effectively. These teams typically include paramedics, emergency physicians, and nurses trained in trauma care. In addition, establishing medical facilities within the vicinity of the event is vital. These facilities should be equipped with advanced medical equipment, including defibrillators, ventilators, and trauma kits, to provide immediate medical attention in case of accidents.

Seamless communication and coordination among medical personnel, event organisers, and local emergency services are imperative. This ensures that response times are minimised, and patients receive timely medical care. Nothing can be done usefully in the spur of the moment and in that sense conducting pre-event briefings and emergency response drills to familiarise the medical personnel with the event layout and potential scenarios they may encounter. This preparation enhances their readiness to tackle emergencies efficiently and ever so promptly.

There are accompanying infrastructure necessities like implementing track safety enhancements, such as impact-absorbing barriers, runoff areas, and improved fencing, which minimises the risk of serious accidents and mitigates their consequences.

Ensuring the safety of spectators is equally critical. Erecting sturdy barriers and grandstands at safe distances from the track reduces the likelihood of injuries in the event of an accident. Given the risk of fire in motor racing accidents, installing fire suppression systems along the track and in pit areas is essential. Additionally, providing fire-resistant clothing for competitors and pit crew members enhances their safety.

Enforcing stringent vehicle safety regulations, including mandatory safety features such as roll cages, fire extinguishing systems, and driver restraints, is imperative to minimise the risk of injuries to drivers. Conducting thorough risk assessments before the event enables organisers to identify potential hazards and develop effective mitigation strategies. Establishing clear emergency response protocols ensures a coordinated and efficient response to medical emergencies. These protocols should outline roles and responsibilities, communication channels, and evacuation procedures. Having well-defined evacuation procedures in place, including designated evacuation routes and assembly points, facilitates the safe and orderly evacuation of spectators and personnel in the event of an emergency. Access to medical evacuation resources, such as air ambulances and ground transport services, and four-wheel ambulances, is crucial for swiftly transporting critically injured individuals to advanced medical facilities for specialised care.

Conducting post-event debriefings allows organisers to assess the effectiveness of safety measures and emergency response protocols. Lessons learned from each event should be used to refine safety procedures for future events. Regular training sessions for medical personnel, event staff, and volunteers help to keep them abreast of the latest safety protocols and procedures. Additionally, providing education on injury prevention and first aid equips individuals with the skills necessary to respond effectively to emergencies. Embracing technological innovations, such as real-time monitoring systems and predictive analytics, can enhance safety by identifying potential hazards and enabling proactive risk mitigation measures.

As is evident from the above determinants, assuring safety in such events is a huge, HUGE, endeavour. All components of the initiative should work like a well-oiled machine to provide the best benefits to the people in need of medical assistance. Given the above-listed requirements, it is always useful to look back over the shoulder to see up to what kind of level the Fox Hill Race complied with them.

A core responsibility of any government is to ensure the safety of people and create conditions to promote the well-being of individuals and communities. The tragedy in Diyathalawa resulted in loss of life, distress, and disabilities to individuals, families, and communities, apart from a considerable loss of material resources including money, due to damage to property, compensation, and other expenses. It looks as if the powers-that-be have not been able to foresee and plan this event accordingly, which unfortunately led to this tragedy.

Has the government taken adequate steps to meet its responsibilities and duties to society and how did it do it? The entire event should be the result of adequate planning and practice by government agencies and private sector stakeholders which supported the event. Important questions need to be asked as to how approval was secured from the controlling authorities to stage this event. Did the government approve of the conduct of this event? Who approved it and were the criteria for safety fulfilled? It has been said that planning and executing the event was undertaken by the Sri Lanka Army in collaboration with the Automobile Association of Sri Lanka. One may be forgiven if one asks whether they had the adequate capacity to plan and execute such an important event.

Making the race track involves levelling off the ground, cutting trees, and ensuring proper drainage and landslide controls. Was there consultation with the Forest Department, Geological Surveys carried out, Water Resources Board consulted and the environment agencies tapped to prevent any possible disasters, short term, and long term?

One has also to ask whether the racing track was suitably laid out for an event of this nature. We saw a large amount of dust interfering with the vision of drivers. Who approved the track as suitable for such a race? Were the drivers and vehicles competent and technically sound to participate in such a race? We have now been told that some of the vehicles were not even registered with the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

Had adequate steps been taken by the organisers to ensure the safety of all spectators by erecting barriers, having proper policing, training race officials, and ensuring communication methods to indicate danger? Did the organisations take all necessary steps to ensure there would be emergency services available in collaboration with the fire brigade, ambulance services and health authorities?

It would be to the benefit of all concerned if an independent fact-finding inquiry to ascertain the answers to the above is held urgently. Any recommendations resulting thereof should be implemented promptly for the benefit of our people. It will not be a witch-hunt but a progressive step in the right direction for the betterment of future generations.

Safety at sporting events, particularly those involving high-speed activities like car races, demands a multi-faceted approach encompassing trained medical backup, infrastructure enhancements, comprehensive emergency response plans, and continuous improvement initiatives. By prioritising safety and implementing robust measures to mitigate risks, organisers can ensure that both competitors and spectators can enjoy the excitement of sporting events with peace of mind. However, it is of the utmost importance to recognise that safety is an ongoing endeavour that requires vigilance, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence in every aspect of event management.

It was the iconic President of the USA of the distant past, Abraham Lincoln, who said, “Matters of war are too, serious, to be left in the hands of Generals”. It was heard over the grapevine that a wag had opined that “responsibility issues and legal matters are too, serious. to be left solely in the hands of certain types of powers-that-be.”