Para athlete dies training for World Championships in London

A para athlete training for the World Championships in London has died after a discus cage fell on him at Newham Leisure Centre.

The death of Abdullah Hayayei from the United Arab Emirates was confirmed by the International Paralympic Committee following the accident.

"He had been due to compete at the London Stadium in the discus, javelin and shot put in the F34 class, a category for athletes suffering from cerebral palsy who use a throwing frame to compete," reports The Times.

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Details of the incident have not been revealed but Majid Al Usaimi, the vice president of the UAE Disabled Sports Federation, told local television that “the metal discus cage fell on his head" during a practice session.

"We are overcome by grief, all of the UAE delegation here in London, and are truly shocked by this news, but it is God's will," he said.

"We had a meeting with the entire delegation and decided to continue our journey here, with greater motivation in honour of and as a tribute to our brother Abdullah."

The Met Police revealed that officers and an air ambulance were called to the scene at around 5pm on Tuesday but Hayayei was pronounced dead at the scene at 5.20pm.

IPC president Sir Philip Craven and Ed Warner, co-chair of London 2017, both said they were "devastated" by the death.

"London 2017, which starts on Friday, was to be Hayayei's second World Championships," reports the BBC. "At the 2015 event in Doha, Qatar, he finished fifth in the discus F34 and eighth in shot put F34.

"A moment of silence will be held in honour of Hayayei during Friday's opening ceremony at London Stadium."