An inquest heard that the death of a 23-year-old university student who was impaled by metal spikes while attempting to climb over a fence was a “tragic accident.”
Suhith Mahendra, an Oxford Brookes University master’s student, attempted to “climb or leap” over a metal spiked barrier while walking home with a buddy after picking up takeout.
The 23-year-old stumbled and hit his head on the fence while falling, fatally puncturing his abdomen twice.
Around 4.05 am, a security guard heard Mr. Mahendra’s buddy Theo Pemberton yelling, “My friend has died, please don’t die,” which alerted him to the disaster.
On May 19, shortly before 5.30 a.m., Mr. Mahendra, an Indian national, was declared dead at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.
After a night of partying, his buddy said at the inquest that they had gone to acquire fries from a kebab truck and walked back along their usual route.
Mr. Pemberton said, “There is a low metal fence with metal spikes on top.” We have used this shortcut a countless number of times previously. Since I had longer legs than Suhith, I leaped over first and shone a light with my phone. His left leg was on a metal post, and he supported himself with his right leg.
It had been heavily pouring that evening when his foot slipped. I leaped back over and pulled him off with all of my might. He then tripped and hit another fence from behind.
He had wounds beneath his belly button and was sporting a white shirt. His wounds were letting something out, and I could see it.
I covered him with my hoodie and cap. He soon began to decline while in agony, but he eventually stopped. I then made an ambulance call.
Mr. Pemberton reportedly remained with his companion for around 25 minutes while doing CPR. “He was a really close buddy, a great friend, kind, lovely, and giving,” he continued.
There were no worries about participation by outside parties, according to Detective Constable Clare Scanlon: Nothing discovered throughout the inquiry has given rise to worries about possible participation by suspicious third parties.
He seemed to have fallen on some metal spikes and had a horrible mishap that caused his injuries to be fatal.
The inquiry learned that the spikes were four inches long and spaced about three inches apart.
In Oxford Coroner’s Court, Coroner Nicholas Graham declared: “My finding is accidental death.” Nobody could have foreseen that he would fall or sustain such severe wounds.
Professor Ian Roberts reported that the deceased died at roughly 5.30 a.m. on May 19 from a severe aortic rupture with haemothorax and retroperitoneal haemorrhage.
The man fell and impaled himself on metal spikes while attempting to climb over metal barriers on Mastern Lane. He tragically passed away from his injuries later that day.
Before his terrible death, Mr. Mahendra was a master’s student at Oxford Brookes University, where he resided in dorms on Hollow Way in Cowley.
Oxford Brookes University released the following statement: “It is with great regret that we can report Suhith Mahendra passed away on May 19 as a result of an incident on Cuckoo Lane at the border with Clive Booth Student Village.”
Students are advised to get in touch with the university’s wellbeing service if they want emotional help, or they may utilise TogetherAll’s 24/7 support.