Fatal jousting accident man named

Professional re-enactors took part in the mock joust

A 54-year-old man who died after a splinter of wood entered his eye during a mock joust for Channel 4 TV series Time Team has been named by police.

Paul Anthony Allen, a fight re-enactor, was taking part in an episode being filmed at Rockingham Castle, on the Northants/Leics border last month.

Mr Allen, from Heyden, Cambridgeshire, died on 20 September at University Hospital, Coventry.

An inquest was opened on 26 September and adjourned to a later date.

When the accident was announced Channel 4 said on impact with the man's shield, a splinter from a balsa wood lance entered the eye-slit of his helmet and went into his eye socket.

'Tragic accident'

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said the man was part of a professional group which regularly re-enacted fights.

"We have been shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic accident," she said.

"The professional company of historical enactors has an excellent safety record and took all the appropriate and necessary precautions and it does sadly appear this was a tragic freak accident."

The popular history series follows archaeological digs and is presented by ex-Blackadder star Tony Robinson.

The jousting was filmed on 13 September as part of an episode focusing on Edward III's Round Table at Windsor Castle.