A football player from Yarrawonga Football Club is in a critical condition after a fireworks explosion at an end-of-season party on Tuesday night. Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident, which police say was reckless and dangerous.
Footballer suffers facial injuries
The injured player, Jess Koopman, 27, was flown to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne after suffering facial injuries from the explosion. He was in a critical condition early Thursday morning.
According to police, a 45-year-old man supplied the commercial grade manufactured firework that injured Koopman, after he attempted to ignite it at the party. It is understood that a group of people were celebrating the end of the football season by letting off fireworks in the intersection of Dunlop Street and Gilmore just after 11 pm.
Police seized a quantity of commercial grade manufactured fireworks from the scene. A search warrant was executed at a property in Benalla Road on Wednesday morning, where a Yarrawonga man was arrested. He has been charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury and possess explosive substance.
Another 25-year-old Yarrawonga man was also arrested in relation to the incident and is assisting police with their enquiries.
Police warn against illegal fireworks
Detective Acting Sergeant David Basham said that the incident was a reminder of the dangers of illegal fireworks. He said that people who use or supply fireworks without a licence could face serious penalties and put themselves and others at risk.
“Be mindful and respectful that your actions do have consequences and enjoy that premiership win safely and respectfully,” he said.
He also urged anyone who has information about illegal fireworks to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.
Club apologises for offensive costumes
The fireworks explosion in Yarrawonga followed another recent post-season football celebration incident in the nearby town of Finley in New South Wales.
During end-of-season celebrations on Saturday, a picture of two members of the Finley Football Netball Club wearing offensive costumes was posted online. One was dressed as a suicide bomber and another as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The social post has since been removed by the club, which released a public statement about the matter on its Facebook page on Monday.
“The Finley Football Netball Club Board wishes to express our sincerest apologies to the community for the abhorrent costumes that members of Finley Football Netball Club wore,” it wrote.
The club acknowledged that the costumes were “offensive” and not consistent with its culture and values.
