A 48-year-old former soldier living in Crowthorne (England) was accidentally killed by his son during a challenge to see who was stronger.
It is known that Malcolm Callender frequently joked and had a habit of playfully slapping his son Ewan (19 years old). On the day of the tragic incident, according to witnesses, the two were playfully slapping each other after drinking beer at a local bar.
Malcolm raised his hand to slap his son Ewan as they were leaving 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 stumble and hit his head on the ground. Subsequently, Malcolm passed away due to a brain hemorrhage on the way to the hospital for treatment.
Ewan was immediately arrested and had to wait 18 months before the Prosecutor’s Office decided not to press charges against him.
Malcolm’s wife – Ewan’s mother – told the media that the slapping game between Malcolm and Ewan was a popular pastime for a long time – “Malcolm was very competitive and never let Ewan win; he used this game as a reminder that Ewan wasn’t old enough yet.”
“Ewan had great respect for his father because Malcolm was a senior figure in the Army, and he always wanted to make his father proud.” – A friend familiar with the family stated.
Mr. Callender was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where he received intensive treatment but passed away early the next morning. The cause of death was reported as “head trauma from a strong force.”
According to family and friends, the “slapping game” had been used by Malcolm since Ewan was a child, a playful lesson from father to son, but unfortunately, the incident went too far.
Source: The Sun