Man thrown into air dies after colleagues fail to catch him

Man thrown into air at retirement party dies after colleagues fail to catch him
KUSATSU, Shiga -- A 60-year-old man who was thrown into the air in celebration at a farewell party for his retirement died after his colleagues failed to catch him and he landed on the floor, it has been learned.

Following his death, the man's 59-year-old wife filed a police complaint against three colleagues who threw him up into the air, accusing them of gross negligence resulting in death.

"He worked until the retirement age. We had been looking forward to going to various places as a couple and were excited that we would be able to spend a relaxing time together," she said. "No matter what I say he won't come back, but I want to find out why this happened."

The man had worked at the branch of a major transportation firm in Ritto, Shiga Prefecture. According to the complaint and sources familiar with the incident, about 40 people including the head of the branch and most of the other drivers working there attended a farewell party at an inn in Kusatsu on the evening of Nov. 18, 2007.

During the event, the 60-year-old's colleagues threw him into the air in celebration, but they failed to catch him, and he landed on the tatami floor. He suffered neck and backbone injuries, leaving him with a disability in which he lost the use of his limbs and suffered respiratory failure. He died in September 2008 from blood poisoning. more