A Swedish Elite League ice hockey player died after his throat was slashed by a teammate's skate during a weekend game, officials said today.
Bengt Akerblom, 28, of the Mora team died during surgery in a hospital in Mora.Akerblom was skating behind a teammate when an opposing player checked the teammate and sent him tumbling in midair. The teammate's legs went up and his skate hit Akerblom's throat, cutting a main artery.
The accident occurred during a training match between Mora and Brynas in the Mora arena Sunday night.
Medical staff were among the 600 spectators and were at Akerblom's side within a minute, reports said. Akerblom was losing blood very fast. He was taken to hospital but could not be saved, doctors said.
It was believed to be the first fatal accident in Swedish Elite League ice hockey. However, similar accidents have happened in other Swedish hockey games. Ten years ago, a 15-year-old player died on the ice after having had his artery cut by a skate.