Tag Archives: Copyright

We know the above headline is likely to make you laugh. But this is a serious matter. This is the story of a real tragedy that took place in Great Britain. According to various news outlets, a 24-year old father named Ateeq Rafiq was seeing a movie in Birmingham, England on March 9 when he dropped his cellphone between two reclining seats. When Rafiq bent down to pick up the item, the footrest on the electrically-powered seat clamped down on his head, reports the Birmingham Mail newspaper. The horrific incident took place at Vue Cinema at Star City, the outside of which is pictured below. Said a spokesperson for the venue in a prepared statement: “Following an incident which took place on Friday 9 March at our Birmingham cinema, we can confirm that a customer was taken to hospital that evening. “We are saddened to learn that he passed away on Friday 16 March. “A full investigation into the nature of the incident is ongoing. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family who have our full support and assistance.” How could this possibly have happened? A source familiar with the situation described what transpired thusly when speaking to the aforementioned publication: “The Gold Class seats are electric reclining seats. He bent down to look for his phone. “At this point the leg-rest was in an upright position. But as he stuck his head underneath to have a look, the footrest clamped down onto his head. He was stuck. “His partner and staff tried to free him but couldn’t. The chair leg-rest was eventually broken free and he managed to get out.” From there, Rafiq was taken to a local hospital. He passed away several days later from injuries sustained in this freak accident. The victim’s family is devastated by the loss, says sister-in-law Fatima Arzo to The Daily Mirror. “We are grieving and completely in shock. My sister is in pieces,” she told the newspaper, adding: “We are grateful to everyone who tried to help him, and at the moment we are praying and trying to come to terms with the fact we lost a loved one.” The cinema complex at Star City where this took place features 25 screens, including three Gold Class rooms where the emphasis is on comfort and luxury. Reads the official website: “The Gold Class ticket price includes complimentary popcorn during your film and is strictly for over 18’s, offering luxury seating with a fully licensed bar and an enhanced viewing experience. “Gold Class customers are welcome to visit the Gold Class bar to enjoy a drink before and during the screening.” Our thoughts go out to the family of Ateeq Rafiq. May he rest in peace.

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Man Gets Head Stuck in Movie Theater Seat, Dies