Channel 4 star died in freak jousting accident as horrified pals looked on
In a chilling twist of fate, a medieval jousting re-enactment turned tragic when a Norfolk man, Paul Allen, was fatally impaled, leaving friends in shock.
A man set to star in a Channel 4 re-enactment of a medieval jousting tournament was tragically impaled through the head as his horrified friends looked on. The Norfolk man, Paul Allen, died at 54 in the freak jousting accident when the slats in his helmet failed to give him protection from the oncoming weapon.
The accident in 2007 saw a splinter from his opponent's 7ft wooden lance spear his eye and brain whilst filming for Channel 4 series Time Team. Allen was airlifted to hospital after the accident at Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire with the splinter still stuck in his eye, five inches inside his head. In an horrific twist of fate Allen was only offered the chance to take part at the last minute, and he accepted.
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It was found at the inquest, in Kettering, Northamptonshire, that Allen's helmet had slits which were too large, meaning it was easier for the lance to get through. Both Allen and his so-called “opponent” Adam Plant had zero experience of jousting, despite Allen travelling the country to larp as a mediaeval jouster.
Coroner Anne Pember, who recorded a narrative verdict, also found that Allen's shield was strapped to his arm and shoulder meaning it failed to adequately protect his face. He died a week after he was transported to hospital from cardio-respiratory failure and a severe brain injury.
Pember’s verdict said: "Paul Anthony Allen was a 54-year-old married man, a very experienced rider who was passionate about historical re-enactment.
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"On the September 13, 2007 he was engaged in a re-enactment concerning Edward III recreation of a round table of knights in the mid-14th century at Rockingham Castle.
"Paul Allen, dressed as a 14th century knight together with shield and lance, cantered his horse in opposition to Adam Plant. Mr Plant performed a breaking lance joust which contacted Mr Allen's shield and then tragically part of the broken lance travelled upwards towards the site of his helm piercing Mr Allen's left eye through to his brain." Footage of the joust was shown in the episode of Time Team, at the request of Allen's family.
