Freak Tragedy: 16-Year-Old National-Level Basketball Star Killed After Net Horrifically Collapses On Him [VIDEO]

The death of 16-year-old basketball player Hardik Rathi has left thousands of people in complete shock, as his death could’ve been prevented.

Hardik was practicing on an outside basketball court, as CCTV footage showed him jumping and touching the basketball rim.

During one of these jumps, he clutched the basket’s rim, but his weight would bring the entire thing crashing down on top of him. His friends and teammates immediately ran over to his aid.

They lifted the pole and rescued Hardik, but the damage was already done.

The footage is too horrifying to post on this page, but it can be found here.

Hardik Rathi tragically passed away after the iron basketball pole collapsed on him during practice on Tuesday.

His tragic death comes on the heels of 19-year-old college student, Amira McLeod, being fatally shot during a triple shooting incident.

More Information On Hardik Rathi

basketballsLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 08: A view of Wilson NCAA game basketballs ahead of a game between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins at UCLA Pauley Pavilion on January 08, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

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Hardik Rathi had a lot more life to live, and the way his life was taken from him was simply tragic.

Hardik was the elder of two brothers, and his father had enrolled both of them into a basketball academy in Rohtak’s Lakhan Majra. He would often spend up to six hours practicing, from 4 am to 7 am and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Nobody knew that his final time on Earth would end there.

In response to the tragedy, the Haryana Olympic Association announced that all sports festivals and events in the state will be suspended for the next three days as a mark of respect for the talented basketball player.

In the meantime, authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse, including the condition of the equipment and the safety measures in place at the playground.

This, however, isn’t the only incident. Recently, another 15-year-old basketball star player, Aman, died due to a similar accident as the basketball pole fell on him during practice, causing him internal injuries.

Speaking to NDTV, Hardik’s cousin Khadak Singh Rathi said their family has suffered a loss that cannot be compensated for. “Hardik was a decent, focused boy. His dream was to lead India in basketball.”

“I hold the Haryana government and the sports department responsible for this. I plead to the Haryana government: I have lost my brother, but I do not want any other family to lose their son. They should get these courts repaired so that children do not have to risk their lives to win medals,” he said.

Khadak Singh added that the basketball board hit Hardik on his chest and caused internal bleeding, leading to his unfortunate death.