Russian President Vladimir Putin has accidentally broken the neck of an 11 year-old boy during a Friday night hockey game.
One eyewitness said that Putin, while darting for the puck, body-checked the young boy from behind, sending the preteen head-first into the boards. Putin then promptly spat on him and called him “weak.”
Paramedics soon entered the ice and stretchered off the unnamed child. Putin, upon realizing what had occurred, slapped his stick on the boy’s shin guard as a sign of respect.
The game continued with Putin scoring 8 goals and 3 assists. The player’s ages ranged from as young as 8 to as old as 70.
The hockey game was a media event to support Russian hockey in preparation for the 2019 Winter Olympics, to be hosted in China. Russia has not won since 1988 under the Soviet Union banner, and Putin has promised a Gold Medal.
After the game, the anonymous child’s parents declined to speak for fear of retaliation from the Kremlin. The BBC was told the kid’s dream was to play in the NHL in America.
The 11 year-old is at a local Moscow hospital awaiting a doctor. It could be several days before a prognosis can be reached. His parents did imply they would bring him vodka to help ease the pain.
Proper pain medication is not allowed until all the proper paperwork is filled out, which could take as long as a month.
An anonymous nurse at the hospital, who speaks some English, said, “His neck is broke (sic). You can see the bone. It is not good. A doctor will see him tomorrow. That is how it is.”
Russian media outlets reported the match, but declined to mention the child with the broken neck. The nation’s journalist’s hands continued to be tied. Over 350 Russian journalists have been killed since 1993.