A China University of Technology cheerleader has died of injuries sustained in a fall while practicing a stunt on Saturday, Hsinchu police said yesterday.
Feng Shu-hui (馮書慧), 19, is the nation’s first cheerleading fatality. She was hurt as the team was practicing a basket toss, in which three cheerleaders throw a fourth straight up into the air and catch him or her on the way down.
Prosecutors said Feng was thrown 3m into the air, but was not caught properly and struck her head on the gym floor, which was not covered by a safety mattress. She suffered massive head injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital, but died on Monday.
Photo courtesy of the China University of Technology
China University of Technology chief secretary Tien Yao-yuan (田耀遠) said the school was trying to calm students over the accident and would observe two minutes of silence in honor of Feng at its anniversary festivities on Sunday.
Hsinchu District Prosecutor Liao Chi-tsun (廖啟村), who is leading an investigation into the accident, said yesterday that cheerleading coach Lin Ching-hsiang (林慶祥) had been questioned over the accident and released on NT$50,000 bail.
Prosecutors said Lin had speculated that the other cheerleaders might not have caught Feng because it was the first time they were practicing throwing her 3m into the air instead of the normal 2.5m.
The prosecutors said Lin told them he had not noticed the -absence of the safety mattress.
Wang Chun-chuan (王俊權), director of the Ministry of Education’s physical education department, said yesterday that “the university authorities are liable for the student’s death,” because there are strict regulations for cheerleading and similar activities.
The rules require stunts practiced or performed by cheerleaders to go no higher than 3m, and a safety mattress must be used during practices, competitions or performances, Wang said.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
RSS