DIVAS ACCIDENT SPARKS DRINK AWARENESS

By Laura Stowe
News Reporter

STUDENTS are being warned of the dangers associated with drinking alcohol following an accident in the SU on Friday 29 October.
   A non-student, who had been in Divas nightclub with some friends, suffered a fractured skull and bruising after falling from the stair railings that lead up to the first floor of the Union building.
   Student Lewis Compton, who witnessed what happened, said; “The guy was positioning himself, with a bag of chips, at the top of the stairs; he looked as if he was getting ready to slide down the railings. The bouncer caught sight of him but before he had a chance to warn him of the danger, he just leaned back and fell to the bottom. I think he thought there was a wall behind him.”
   An ambulance was then called, while University staff, who were on the scene immediately, administered first aid. The individual was then taken to hospital where he was kept until Monday 1st of November. The Waterfront understands that the injured man is expected to make a full recovery.
   Union Manager, Stuart Rice, said, “I was made aware of the accident on Saturday morning in line with procedure. Concerns were raised that the individual involved had not been signed in by another student, however, it is only necessary for a non-student to be signed if we don’t know who he or she is. This individual was well-known to staff.”
   Student Welfare Officer, Lance Horsey, who has been working in the Union for the past six years said, “Incidents as serious as this are, thankfully, very rare. Our staff are there to ensure that everyone has safe and enjoyable time at the venues on campus, but each individual also has a responsibility for their own personal safety. By enjoying alcohol sensibly, students reduce the risk of serious injury to themselves or to others.” This year, the SU has teamed up with Drink Aware in a bid to address issues associated with heavy alcohol consumption. More information can be found on posters across SU venues.