A ‘talented’ young footballer was killed ‘almost instantly’ after he was electrocuted while playing with friends, an inquest heard. Luke Bennett was blasted by 11,000 volts when a metal pole he was holding above his head touched, or made close contact to, an overhead power line as he played at Euxton Villa FC in Chorley.
The 17-year-old’s heartbroken father Thomas Bennett wept at his son’s inquest as he recalled dropping his lad off on the day of the tragedy. Mr Bennett, an ex-professional football with Wolverhampton Wanderers, described Luke as the ‘life and soul of the party’ with an ‘infectious personality’.
The teen was a rising sports star, having spent time at the academies at Blackburn Rovers, Burnley FC and Preston North End before starting to play for AFC Fylde as a winger.
An inquest at County Hall in Preston heard how in March 2021, the teenager had met with seven of his friends who spent most of the day having a kickabout. At around 6pm three of the boys – Luke, Lewis Geszke and Ben Wilcock – began ‘messing about’ with a metal pole used to separate the subs bench from the pitch.
But as they tried to straighten the pole a huge current surged through the metal and threw all three teenagers to the ground. Luke initially stood up after the shock but his horrified pals watched on as he then collapsed to the ground.
Lewis and Ben were unconscious for a short period before waking up to see CPR being performed on Luke. Despite the best efforts of paramedics and a doctor, Luke’s heart had ‘completely stopped’ and he was pronounced dead at around 6.48pm.
The inquest which began yesterday and is due to conclude today – heard Luke’s heart had been damaged to such an extent he had little chance of surviving. At the outset of the inquest, Luke’s father Thomas bravely took to the stand to pay tribute to his beloved boy. The devastated father said: ‘He was very much the life and soul.
‘His personality was really quite infectious. He was very out-going and was riding a bike before you were supposed to. He just got on with things.’ Mr Bennett described how despite only really getting into football at the age of 13, Luke immediately showed promise and also excelled at other sports including tennis, trampolining and swimming.
‘I said I’d take him and pick him up. I dropped him off, up the drive, which I’ve done dozens of times.’ The coroner asked Mr Bennett how he and his wife, along with Luke’s older brother Dylan, were doing since his death.
‘It was amazing how he could do something without any real practice, he was that kind of lad. ‘He just seemed to excel at pretty much all sports. He played at Blackburn for a bit, then he signed for Burnley and also at Preston. ‘He always asked us to take him to a friend’s house or to play football somewhere at Buckshaw or Euxton.
‘Day by day,’ he replied as he began to cry. ‘It hasn’t been easy.’ ‘Luke was a kind, popular young man who was much loved by his teammates and coaches,’ the club said. ‘He was somebody who could instantly light up a room with his bubbly personality. Then, on the field, he was a naturally gifted footballer who excelled every time he represented AFC Fylde.
‘The pain of Luke’s sudden and untimely passing will be felt by our football club, supporters and all who ever had the pleasure of knowing him. Rest in peace, “Lukey B”. The memory of you will always be in our hearts.’
