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This article was published 12/6/2017 (1201 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The death of an eastern Ontario teen who was killed after being struck by a falling soccer net has prompted city hall to ensure nothing similar happens in Winnipeg.

The community services committee instructed the administration to prepare a report on best practices to securely anchor portable soccer nets during all practices, games and tournaments on civic sporting fields.

"I don’t believe this is official city policy and I want to make sure all steps are taken to prevent something like that happening here," said Coun. Mike Pagtakhan, chairman of the protection, community services and parks committee.

Garrett Mills, 15, was killed May 12 when playing with friends at a soccer field in Napanee, Ont.

News reports said the teen had been hanging by his hands from the top of the net when it tipped over and struck him in the head, killing him instantly.

The net was not anchored to the ground.

Garrett was the son of Dave Mills, a former Winnipegger and radio personality known locally as Buzz Collins.

There have been several reports across Canada and the United States of similar fatal accidents involving children struck and killed when portable soccer nets have tipped over.

Illinois passed a law in 2011 banning the manufacture or sale of new movable soccer nets that are not tip-resistant, and the state now requires older nets to be anchored, and schools and soccer organizations to have safety plans for the use of portable nets.

Pagtakhan (Point Douglas) said after consulting with civic officials, he believes community groups using civic fields in Winnipeg are instructed to have portable soccer nets anchored into the ground to prevent them from tipping over.

However, Pagtakhan said, such requirements are not written into facility user agreements.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca