When David Mills got a call in May of 2017 that his 15-year-old son had been gravely injured on a soccer field, he struggled to grasp what could have gone so seriously wrong, unaware at that time of the dangers of unanchored nets.
“As I got closer to the hospital, I began to pray out loud, it was pretty basic and primal: ‘Please God, please God, please, please, please, please, please God, please God, please, please, please,’” he recounted Thursday to an Ontario legislative committee.
“I was hoping that whatever happened would not leave him brain damaged. We could adjust if he was paralyzed. Life would be dramatically different, but as long as he isn’t in a coma, or suffering serious brain injuries, we'll get through this. Not once did I consider anything beyond that.”
Garrett Mills, from Napanee, Ont., was killed when a 200-pound movable soccer net fell on top of him, fracturing his skull. He had been playing in a park with his girlfriend and his best friend doing chin-ups on the crossbar of the net.
Ric Bresee, who represents the eastern Ontario riding of Hastings-Lennox and Addington for the Progressive Conservatives, earlier this year introduced Garrett’s Legacy Act, which would establish requirements for safe usage of movable soccer goals that are used by members of the public.
The legislation went through committee hearings Thursday, the step before bringing it back to the legislature for third and final reading. It has the support of all parties, which should ensure its passage later this year.
“We sat with Garrett’s body for quite some time before we each said goodbye in our own way,” David Mills told the committee. “I gave him a final kiss on the cheek, and then we went home and sat silently in the living room, trying to grasp what had happened.”
“It is not something I would wish for anyone to have to endure, which is why I am here today,” he said.
“Of course, those who oversee those nets had every good intention for those nets to be anchored, but good intentions were not enough and frankly, are never enough. I firmly believe that if those responsible for those nets had an actual law to abide by, Garrett would likely still be here.”
Movable soccer goals have been blamed for more than 40 deaths across North America, mostly of children, Bresee said. Several other jurisdictions have enacted similar laws, he said.
“I want to bring that same peace of mind and safety to the people of Ontario, that their children will not be injured during the recreational activities of playing soccer or just while playing around a movable soccer goal,” he said.
Palm says Jaime was athletic, outgoing and vibrant, and any time she is outside she looks for butterflies, as a symbol that her daughter is stopping by to say hello.
