A 48-year-old former soldier from Crowthorne, England, was accidentally killed by his 19-year-old son during a playful slap contest to see who was stronger.
Malcolm Callender often joked around and had a habit of “playfully slapping” his son Ewan. On the day of the tragedy, witnesses said the father and son were slapping each other after drinking beer at a local bar.
Malcolm slapped Ewan on the way out of the bar and then said, “You can slap me back as hard as you want.”
Witnesses saw Ewan deliver a very strong slap, causing his father to stagger and hit his head on the ground. Malcolm later died from a brain hemorrhage on the way to the hospital.
Ewan was immediately arrested and waited 18 months before prosecutors decided not to press charges.
Malcolm’s wife and Ewan’s mother told the media that slapping each other was a long-standing game between Malcolm and Ewan. “Malcolm was very competitive and never gave in to Ewan. He used this game as a reminder that Ewan wasn’t grown up yet.”
“Ewan respected his father deeply because Malcolm was a high-ranking military figure and always wanted to make him proud,” said a family friend.
Malcolm was taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital where he received care but passed away early the next morning. The cause of death was reported as “severe head trauma.”
According to family and friends, the slapping game started when Ewan was a child and was meant as a father’s lesson. Sadly, this time it went too far.
Source: The Sun
