Man thrown into air at retirement party dies after colleagues fail to catch him
Matthew Kruk
Man thrown into air at retirement party dies after colleagues fail to catch
him
KUSATSU, Shiga -- A 60-year-old man who was thrown into the air in
celebration at a farewell party for his retirement died after his colleagues
failed to catch him and he landed on the floor, it has been learned.
Following his death, the man's 59-year-old wife filed a police complaint
against three colleagues who threw him up into the air, accusing them of
gross negligence resulting in death.
"He worked until the retirement age. We had been looking forward to going to
various places as a couple and were excited that we would be able to spend a
relaxing time together," she said. "No matter what I say he won't come back,
but I want to find out why this happened."
The man had worked at the branch of a major transportation firm in Ritto,
Shiga Prefecture. According to the complaint and sources familiar with the
incident, about 40 people including the head of the branch and most of the
other drivers working there attended a farewell party at an inn in Kusatsu
on the evening of Nov. 18, 2007.
During the event, the 60-year-old's colleagues threw him into the air in
celebration, but they failed to catch him, and he landed on the tatami
floor. He suffered neck and backbone injuries, leaving him with a disability
in which he lost the use of his limbs and suffered respiratory failure. He
died in September 2008 from blood poisoning.
It was believed that more than three people threw the 60-year-old up into
the air, but since the details on who was involved remained unclear, the
complaint initially named three people whose involvement was confirmed.
Police have reportedly begun questioning colleagues who took part in
throwing the 60-year-old into the air.
Commenting on the incident, a representative of the company's headquarters
said, "The accident was unfortunate, and we express our condolences over the
fact that the man died. However, the farewell party was held voluntarily and
as a company we have no particular comment."
MWB
NO MORE GOLDEN PARACHUTES
GO SEATTLE
Mark
Arthur Preacher
Bummer!
R H Draney
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>http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20081216p2a00m0na006000c.html
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>Man thrown into air at retirement party dies after colleagues fail to catch
>him
It's a *sort* of karoshi, but not as the term is usually understood....r
--
"You got Schadenfreude on my Weltanschauung!"
"You got Weltanschauung in my Schadenfreude!"