Two-year-old Oliver Koch met his tragic end when he was crushed by a sports equipment. His father urgently called for assistance, but the severity of Oliver's injuries was overwhelming.
The young child, who suffered the accident involving a rugby scrum machine at Old Bar Beach Rugby Club, located approximately three hours north of Sydney, lost his life at 2 pm on Sunday.
Sports Equipment Falls On, Crushes 2-Year-Old Boy
The rugby scrum machine, a substantial piece of equipment used for practicing scrummaging, fell on Oliver while he was with his father, a coach for the club.
The father desperately tried to save his son and called for help. Several onlookers assisted with first aid and CPR. Despite frantic efforts to rescue him, the toddler surrendered to his injuries at the scene.
In response to the tragic loss, a family friend initiated a GoFundMe campaign on Wednesday to support Oliver's parents, describing the Koch family as beloved in the community.
The fundraiser appealed for financial assistance to alleviate the family's burdens during this challenging time.
What Is a Scrum Machine
A scrummaging machine, also known as a scrum machine, is a well-padded and substantial device designed for rugby forwards to practice rucking and scrummaging.
The key purpose of the scrum machine is to offer teams a secure tool for enhancing the strength and skills of their players.
Achieving the ideal engagement of a pack in a scrum involves a coordinated and simultaneous movement in the hit, shunt, and drive. The crucial factor is the immediate force applied rather than the cumulative effect of forces over time.
Even smaller packs that synchronize their movements in this manner, hitting 'on the beat,' can consistently maintain control over their scrums.
A basic scrum machine is valuable for safely developing a team's scrummaging skills and instilling confidence before a match. This method allows for isolating individual techniques, requiring fewer players to replicate a scrum.
Players can be shuffled and given instructions without facing opposition, providing an effective way to learn and practice the hooker's timing and enhancing the cohesion of the drive.
According to Rob Ambler from Cranleigh RFC, the basic scrum machine also offers the advantage of feeling the pack's weight, aiding in technical adjustments and ball striking.
More advanced scrum machines provide additional capabilities, enabling the measurement of power and strength on different sides of the scrum.
It is essential to note that a scrum machine cannot replicate the diversity of opposition, including various body shapes, pressures, and the return shove. Additionally, it lacks aggression, awkwardness, and the discomfort of opposition shoulders. The machine cannot simulate the use of the head by the opposition.
Family Mourns Loss of 2-Year-Old
In the aftermath of the tragedy, a few locals expressed their condolences to the bereaved family by placing red flowers at the site of the tragedy.
Kerrie Johnson, a family friend, organized a GoFundMe campaign on Wednesday to help the family during this trying time.
"The Koch family are well loved in our community, and our hearts are shattered for them after the devastating loss of their sweet boy, Oliver," Johnson states.
Authorities are making a report for the coroner and investigating on how the incident unfolded. NSW Police clarified that they do not consider the situation suspicious and doubtful. The case is being treated as an accident instead of a criminal investigation.
Related Article: 9-Year-Old Boy Fatally Struck by Moving School Bus in Florida
