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On the evening of 13th July 2007 during the Golden League athletics meet in Rome, Finn javelin thrower Tero Pitkamaki slipped at the end of his run-up of his 3rd throw, hurling the javelin 40m off-course to the left of the landing area, spearing French long jumper Salim Sidiri who was crouching in the long jump warm-up area.

Sdiri was grazed on the right side of his rib cage, the wound about an inch deep. Never losing consciousness, he was immediately rushed to hospital, was not seriously injured and was discharged at 2am the next day.

A shocked Pitkamaki held his head in his hands after the incident. Still, he managed to regain his composure to take his 4th throw.

Sdiri is now a doubtful competitor at the World Championships in Osaka stargin 25th August. He said he felt anxious at the start of the evening because the men’s javelin and long jump events were taking place at the same time. He added that the javelins were falling too close for comfort from the long jump area. One even landed near his feet while his having his back to it.

This is not the first similar incident this year. In January, Olympic decathlon champion Roman Sebrle was impaled by a javelin on the right shoulder during training. He was hit while crossing the field at his training camp in South Africa. The wound needed 11 stitches.

source: various newsreports