Boy hurt in speedway crash

Carl Simmons was watching a World Cup speedway race at Arlington Stadium, Hailsham, when a rider lost control and ploughed into the fence a few feet from where he was standing.

The youngster, of Southern Road, Hampden Park, Eastbourne, turned to run but was thrown into the air and landed on his head.

His father Steve, 38, who was watching nearby, said: "It happened in an instant. The rider came round the bend at about 60mph, went a bit wide and lost control.

"He disappeared from view and the next thing I knew the hoarding was being smashed to bits and Carl was in the air.

"The bike luckily stayed in the safety zone but the rider had more momentum and hit Carl in the back as he tried to get out the way.

"The force threw him in the air and he came down on his head and gashed it open on the concrete.

"When I reached him I just thought the worst when I saw all the blood under his head. He kept saying to me, 'I'm not going to die, am I?'"

The accident was watching by millions who had tuned in to watch the World Cup qualifying heats on television.

Commentators on Sky Sports, who broadcast the meeting in Britain, sounded shocked as the cameras captured Carl being carried away from the scene on a stretcher.

Former Grand Prix racer Chris Louis told viewers: "The crowd obviously wants to be as close as possible to the action but obviously after that, it may be just too close."

Commentator Tony Millard said: "The way the bike just went through the safety fence, it's just fortunate it did not do more damage."

The Russian rider involved, Serge Kusin, escaped uninjured and was the first to reach Carl's side as he lay on the ground.

St John's Ambulance staff tended to the injured boy before he was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital and treated for a gash to the back of his head and a gravel rash on his back.

Carl, who celebrated his 11th birthday just days earlier, said: "I was standing at the front with my mates. Everybody was up there.

"There were marshals around but they weren't telling us not to stand there. They just said not to stand on top of the stock car fence.

"If we had been standing there, we would have been okay."

Mr Simmons, a self-employed fencer, said: "Carl's mates are taller than him and saw it coming over the hoarding.

"They turned and ran but Carl didn't see it quickly enough. Since it happened, he's been a bit subdued. I think there's a bit of shock."

It was the first speedway race Carl and his father had attended, although they are regular spectators at banger races.

Mr Simmons, who with wife Nicky also has daughter Sophie, five, said: "I was surprised to see people standing so close to the track but everybody was doing it and the marshals weren't stopping them so I thought it was safe.

"I'd never been before so I didn't know what to expect. Three-quarter inch plywood was all that separated the kids from the bikes.

"I don't want to slag off the organisers because I used to be involved in banger racing and I know what it's like but I'm worried if I don't say anything, something will happen a few years down the line and someone will be killed. You would feel so guilty.

"I know motor racing is dangerous but, with all the money they make, I think you would expect a few more safety precautions.

"I understand the World Cup venue at Peterborough will be using airbag fences on Saturday, which I think is a good idea.

"I would like to say to other parents, if you go, keep your kids well back. Accidents don't happen very often but they don't have to happen often. Carl was lucky in the end."

Promoter John Cook said Tuesday night's meeting had complied with all safety regulations set down by the sport's governing body.

There would be a full investigation into the accident.

He said: "The board enforces a two-metre exclusion zone from the fence to the line of spectators but in this incident the bike or the rider actually went further than that two metre-zone.

"It was pretty much a unique accident. For the first time, a bike went beyond the zone.

"Spectators can't stand right up against the fence and I believe Carl was standing two metres back.

"It was a totally regrettable incident, which took the shine off our most prestigious meeting so far.

"It's getting bigger each year and it's prudent to review our operating procedures each year."

Carl said: "I want to go to see speedway again but next time I'll be standing with my dad."

The incident-packed meeting took almost three hours to complete after a series of spectacular crashes. The fence had to be repaired four times.