should this have been shown?

[redcrx]

Mr CRX and myself went to Brands at weekend to watch the world superbikes and other bike races.

Tragically one of the promising young riders, Craig Jones, in the Supersport race was killed during the race.

The race and therefore accident was transmitted live on Sky on sunday apparently. Fair enough, a live broadcast cant be accountable for whats shown.

But last night we sat down to watch the race on Motor.TV, hoping to see exactly what had happened at other parts of track during the superbikes (as we were there we could only hear commentary)

anyway they were showing the supersport, Footage of all the bikers getting ready, Craig Jones there, commentators talking about what a star he could be etc etc.
Then they show the race.

Now i was expecting them to show race highlights and then cut before the awful accident. But NO, they ran the whole thing, even to the point of showing his motionless body on the track as the commentators were calling for the footage to be cut as they knew it was bad.

Is it just me that thinks this was unecessary? After all that was said after the death of Ayton Senner live on the Grand Prix. What was the need to repeat the crash and the footage of that poor young lad?

[4getmenot]

Do you think they asked persmission of the family for it to be shown?

[redcrx]

would family want that to be shown? OK yes, they may well have wanted his last race shown, he had great talent and was 2nd in the race to that point. But the actual accident which killed him, that i cant understand.

[4getmenot]

well Steve Irwins family had his last moments shown. I guess he died doing something he loved doing

[redcrx]

ooooh its just gives me the shivvers. I just didnt expect it to be shown.

[Nosha123]

Thats so sad. My Hubbie was due to go with some mates on their bikes but had to cancel at last min as our cat was seriously ill (and has now been put to sleep) and his mates told him about the accident. They were watching and it happened right in front of them. Awful - really dont think they need to show that kind of stuff - if anyone has some sick curiosity to see it I'm sure it would be on the web somewhere but not on the TV in the lounge! Poor lad.. poor family. How awful for them all.

[redcrx]

apparently it is all over you tube.

we were "lucky" not to be sat on main start finish line so didnt see the accident. We had just seen 3 bikes go off in front of us 2 laps before and were watching the clear up operation. It took a little while before we noticed the marshalls on finish line holding up the sheeting around the accident. A few of our friends were over that side too, it shook them all up.

sorry about your poor cat x

[joggerjayne]

Two minds about this one.

Against showing it ...

It must be awful in particular for everyone who knew Craig Jones, and painful to see it on the telly.

And there will be a thrill seeking minority for whom accidents are exciting, even if they are fatal.

For showing it ...

It's a dangerous sport, and the audience should not be immunised from the real danger of the sport. If you don't see it happen, it is too easy to mentally play down the reality of what it means. It's like saying ... someone has been killed, but let's not spoil the race by showing the nasty bits. The fact is, the race has been spoiled, and you can only appreciate how badly it has been spoiled if you see the tragedy for yourself.

Is it shocking? Yes. But you need to be shocked to appreciate the ecale of the tragedy of someone losing their life.

And from the family's point of view, do they want it swept under the carpet just so that the telly coverage isn't so nasty? They will want to grieve in private, but the accident itself cannot be private cos it happened in front of thousands of people.

I'm still not sure, but it's horrid and tragic.

[4getmenot]

maybe they just think well its life and these things happen and maybe showing it will kind of save some lives

[redcrx]

I know what youre saying Jayne. Im not sure either.

i can understand why parents of teenagers whove died from drug overdoses may wish to show the world what a tragic loss of life it was, in the hope that it puts others off doing the same thing.

But in the world of sport im not sure, they are professionals, we all know its dangerous, bikers dont tend to come out of a race thinking hey lets all blat off at 150mph on these bendy roads just like the racers do (or at least those I know dont)

[bobtheturkey]

sky are normally quite good about stuff like that they wouldn't even show the broken leg Eduardo suffered last season

[joggerjayne]

You're right Bob. But the BBC showed it over and over, from every angle, as all the presenters kept going "Ooooooooooh"

[888sally888]

I dont think it should have been shown again. It was heartbreaking to see him hit and then just lying there.

I know its a dangerous sport but somehow you expect them all to be indestructible.

[redcrx]

thats true Sally, you see them sliding, bouncing over gravel and getting up again, you dont expect them to get killed.

[Octavius]

I think the mitigating circumstances are that he didn�t die at the spot � i.e. the footage does not �show� his actual death, which occurred sometime later in hospital.

The video is also freely available on the net and I watched it the other day, clearly not pleasant viewing, especially when you know the outcome, but I think as he didn�t die �in� it is to some extent acceptable to see the hazards of such sports.

[joggerjayne]

Now that's an interesting angle Octavius. You see him injured, but you don't see him when the injuries subsequently prove fatal.

sally888, we all think we're a little bit indestructible, don't we?

[redcrx]

As far as people there were aware he died and was recusitated 4 times before he was even airlifted.

To me, even if he was alive at the point camera was on his face, he didnt look like he was going to get up and brush it off. If he was still seriously ill in hospital Id think it a bit bizarre to show the accident on a repeat.

[888sally888]

He did come round for a very short while in the air ambulance.

He died in hospital with his parents, girlfriend, James Toseland and Tommy Hill with him.

A sad loss.

[redcrx]

i read this morning about Toseland rushing to his bedside as soon as he heard.

[888sally888]

I think James comes across as such a lovely man.

My husband has known the Hill family for many years through racing. We said hi to them a couple of years ago and they are a very down to earth family. Poor Tommy - Craig was his best mate.

[redcrx]

i cant imagine what any of his friends and family must be going through.