It had to happen at some point - a prominent public figure has a tragic end due to a ski-related injury. OK, so we didn't pay attention when Sonny Bono or the Kennedy Cuzzin came to their ends, but let's be honest, we really weren't paying attention. Maybe this time? From Bloomburg:
Natasha Richardson’s death after a fall during a ski lesson in Quebec has renewed debate in Canada over whether all skiers should be forced to wear helmets, the Canadian Press said today.
The U.K.-born actress reportedly wasn’t wearing a helmet when she fell, and seemed fine immediately afterward, Canadian Press said. Richardson, 45, died in a New York hospital yesterday. A family statement didn’t give the cause of death.
A report released last year suggested that of the 26 ski deaths in Quebec from 1990 through 2004, 14 were the result of head injuries, and just two of those victims were wearing helmets, Canadian Press said.
Emergency room doctors called on Quebec last month to make helmets mandatory, and Quebec Sport and Leisure Minister Michelle Courchesne said she would consider the idea in time for next year’s ski season, Canadian Press said
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Personally I cover my noggin, and my children's noggins, whenever any of us goes up to ski. If others would do as well, perhaps this sort of thing could be avoided.
