A 23-year-old man lost his life after a prank went disastrously wrong during a Christmas party at a driving range.
Conner Groom was celebrating at Topgolf in Chigwell, Essex, on December 21, 2021, when he and his friends started engaging in playful pranks.
Tragically, Conner suffered a fatal spinal injury after falling 3.7 meters from the first floor.
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Conner, hailing from Clacton-on-Sea, was pushed by a friend from a bay at the driving range, causing him to fall headfirst over the edge of the safety nets.
The inquest at Essex Coroner’s Court revealed that Conner and his friends had been drinking before arriving at Topgolf.
The pranks involved nudging each other to fall onto the safety nets, a playful act that turned fatal.
After the accident, Conner was rushed to the Royal London Hospital. However, his condition deteriorated, and he succumbed to his injuries on January 25, 2022.
Detective Inspector Lydia George testified at the inquest, stating that officers had collected multiple witness statements and reviewed CCTV footage of the incident.
She noted that the group appeared in high spirits with no signs of hostility. The CCTV footage depicted the pranks as jokes, and security personnel had even spoken to the group about their behavior earlier in the evening.
DI George explained that the fatal push occurred after Conner’s friend jokingly announced his intention to push Conner into the net.
The push, delivered with both hands, caused Conner to get a foot caught in the net, leading to his fall and severe injuries. The proposed cause of death was a hypoxic brain injury due to traumatic spinal cord injury.
Despite warnings from staff, the group continued their pranks, promising not to repeat their behavior after being cautioned. Following the tragic fall, the group acknowledged they had been warned several times.
After consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service and Conner’s family, Essex Police decided not to pursue manslaughter charges against the friend, as the evidence did not support such a case. Conner’s parents did not support a prosecution, believing their son would not have wanted his friend to face legal action over the incident.
The police concluded that the incident was a prank that ended in a tragic accident. Graham Jarvis, a senior environmental health officer for Epping Forest Council, conducted a safety review at Topgolf following Conner’s death.
The venue implemented several changes, including updated signage and a stricter zero-tolerance policy. A new role, player safety manager, was introduced to oversee safety during busy times, particularly when alcohol consumption is expected.
Coroner Lincoln Brookes affirmed that there was no malicious intent within the group. He noted that Conner’s friend had intended for him to land on the safety net but had pushed him more forcefully than the earlier playful nudges, leading to the tragic fall.
Brookes recorded a conclusion of misadventure, acknowledging the high spirits and impaired judgment due to alcohol that contributed to the accident. He described the case as a “terrible tragedy.”
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