News
Arkansas student impaled by golf club
Whatever snooty image the outside world conjures up for the game of golf, the sport tends to be pretty laid back. Self-deprecation, laughter and a slew of adult beverages are all usually a vital part of the experience.
But as has been recently noted, the amount of alcohol imbibed on the course can be dangerous, for physical and legal reasons.
And never forget that your equipment can serve as a weapon.
That is the case in Jonesboro, Ark., where an 18-year-old college student was impaled in the neck with a broken golf shaft last Tuesday.
Natalie Eaton, a freshman at Arkansas State University, was hanging out at a fraternity cookout when a most unlikely and unfortunate event occurred. One male student tossed a football to another male student, who decided to swing his golf club at the object like it was a baseball. On impact the shaft broke in two, and the lower part flew 30 feet into Eaton’s neck.
The 18-year-old was initially sent to a local hospital before being flown, via helicopter, to a hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She was listed in critical condition as late as Thursday with fears that she was facing paralysis.
Thankfully, matters turned for the better the next day. On Friday, Arkansasmatters.com posted that Eaton was awake and responsive and could feel both sides of her body. She was, however, extremely confused and did not remember the incident.
Eaton’s friend, Makaleigh Riddle, called the recovery a miracle, considering the doctors’ previous bleak prognostications on the paralysis front.
For now, it seems like a disaster has been avoided. The odds that a broken club could fly into a target of possibly paralysis or death (the spinal cord) are astronomical. A second student at the event, after all, was hit, but not seriously injured like Eaton.
Still, it pays to be careful. Golf clubs used improperly, broken or intact, can prove quite hazardous. Even a simple practice swing can lead to massive damage if you aren’t paying attention to your surroundings. The golf ball is no less a scourge either.
It’s all good to have fun, but remember the agony Eaton’s family must have felt while their faced immobilization or death before you do something blatantly irresponsible with golf equipment or on the golf course.
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jedidiah
Aug 29, 2014 at 9:14 am
i would
Tin Whistle
Aug 27, 2014 at 11:10 pm
What kind of club?
Is it on 2nd Swing yet?
Dave C.
Aug 27, 2014 at 12:46 pm
I used to play golf 30 years ago with a real jerk who would curse and throw clubs all the time. One day, he showed up with a cheap, new driver he had bought for $7. He hit a horrible tee shot, and immediately threw the club. The shaft shattered like it had been made of glass. No one was hurt, but I NEVER played golf with him again.
He had the cheek to send his wife back to the store for a refund, due to the club being “defective”. She got his money back.
Justin
Sep 1, 2014 at 7:54 pm
Knew a guy that did that. Didn’t matter, unless it was a perfect shot (which, for being a 100+ shooter, rarer than rare), the guy got pi$$ed and threw whatever was in hand. It got old, fast…
Desmond
Aug 27, 2014 at 1:36 am
Don’t do stupid things … think of the consequences beforehand
MattSihv
Aug 27, 2014 at 12:20 am
My wife went to A-State and this is her friend’s sister-in-law. She was just a kid at a college party. The story doesn’t mention that the kid who swung the club also saved her life. He thought quickly and was able to keep pressure on the wound..
Justin
Sep 1, 2014 at 7:55 pm
Still, it shouldn’t have gotten to that point.
bradford
Aug 26, 2014 at 1:44 pm
This article should be in the WITB section.
dot dot
Aug 26, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Now the guy has to complete the party with only 13 clubs. Tough break.
Gary Lewis
Aug 26, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Good to know. I think this kind of incident with golf clubs has resulted in at least a fatal incident or more. I heard a story of one golfer throwing a club after a bad shot, club hit a ball washer, broke and part of the shaft came back and hit the guy in the neck and killed him. I am not totally positive it is a true story but could happen. Safety always needs to be a priority everywhere and golf clubs are no exception.
Justin
Sep 1, 2014 at 8:00 pm
A cousin of my wife was killed by a golf club. He was swinging it, decided to hit a clothesline. The head and some of the shaft snapped off… the force of the swing and the way it broke caused the broken end to “wrap around” the post, leading to the kid to be impaled in the throat. You just never know, and responsibility isn’t always on the front of everyone’s mind…
Taylor Zalewski
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:58 am
What in the world does this article have to do with golf. I was in a fraternity and a lot of stupid stuff went down on a regular basis.
Trevor
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:56 am
Absolutely stupid article
Justin
Sep 1, 2014 at 8:01 pm
I’m sorry you’re not intelligent enough to realize the point.
Mike Honcho
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:44 am
Happened in Arkansas, ’nuff said.
rkristopher
Aug 26, 2014 at 10:57 am
Dumb comment.
Idiots are everywhere.
Joe Golfer
Aug 28, 2014 at 1:41 am
Totally agree with you, rkristopher.
It is amazing how many callous remarks about this tragedy have shown up in this forum post.
One person comments that the guy who swung the club will have to finish with 13 clubs now.
Another asks if the club is on 2nd Swing yet.
It’s sad that adults write such things.
I could understand if this was some YouTube music video site, as those are loaded with immature comments from youthful schoolkid commenters who are just acerbic or mean-spirited.
It’s nice to see someone call out those who post those extremely childish remarks.
There is NOTHING funny about a young girl almost being paralyzed in a tragic accident.
Joe Golfnerd
Aug 28, 2014 at 8:13 pm
well thank you mr. white knight; snore.
Xreb
Aug 31, 2014 at 12:24 pm
Compassion is what is lacking in people these days as all the callous posts above aptly demonstrate. Would any of any say these things if it were your wife or sister ?
MattSihv
Aug 27, 2014 at 12:26 am
Mikey, I find it pathetic that you would use an article about a tragedy to announce your idiocy to the internet. I live in Ar-Kansas now, and I’d be happy to compare my life to yours, ’nuff said.
leftright
Aug 29, 2014 at 8:18 am
I wish the country understood the Clinton’s are from Arkansas and then, maybe, Hillary would not be in the POTUS game. Half the people in America couldn’t tell where Arkansas is on a map. Progressives are destroying the country, the world and are responsible for much of golf’s demise over the past few years. I hope that young lady recovers and get’s back to normal.
Justin
Sep 1, 2014 at 8:05 pm
GTFOH with that BS. Really? This article is about a girl who was nearly paralyzed- or worse- and you bring this $hit here? Are you that stupid and uncaring?