Niamh Shackleton
A father has tragically died after being struck by a hammer.
On Sunday (January 26), Wade Langston attended a track meet the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
It's reported that 57-year-old Langston was watching his son compete at the event, when an athlete made a hammer throw that went over the safety net and struck Langston.
Langston's said to have blocked his wife and teenage son from being hit by the 25-pound weight and died instantly after being struck.
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The barriers the weight went on have been described as 'cleared certified', but people have since expressed safety concerns in the wake of Langston's untimely passing.
"This is so unacceptable," Christopher Burris, a track and field coach in Colorado Springs who trains at the UCCS grounds said to Mail Online.
"There isn't enough protection, the nets are not high enough, the area itself is too small. It wasn't set up correctly."
He further labeled the ring and weight throwing area of the facility as 'atrocious'.
Colorado Springs Police Department has confirmed to The Independant that the tragic accident is not being treated as a criminal matter.
UCCS hasn't addresses the backlash, but Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet has has expressed her sadness over Langston's death.
She said: "We are heartbroken at this horrible accident and are focused on supporting all involved."
UNILAD have approached UCCS for additional comment.
It seems as if two separate GoFundMe pages have been set up for the Langston family since his death, both having amassed over $12,000 in donations (at the time of writing).
On one fundraising page, Langston was described as 'a devoted husband, loving father, cherished brother and brother-in-law, fun uncle, and an even more fun great-uncle'.
"He was a truly wonderful person who brought laughter to every room he entered with his great sense of humor," the heartfelt tribute continued.
The money raised on said GoFundMe page will go towards helping the family pay for Langston's son to go to college education, which he's due to start in the fall.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].