A 20-year-old university footballer, Tanner Hart, has died after a skateboarding accident in which he was being towed at high speed by a golf cart. The incident, which happened on Friday night at Lake Tapps Island in Washington state, has drawn attention to the dangers of the activity, particularly as officials confirmed Hart was not wearing a helmet at the time.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, deputies arrived at a "chaotic" scene shortly after midnight, where witnesses said Hart had been travelling "pretty fast". He is said to have let go of the cart before a skateboard wheel caught on something, throwing him to the side of the road and causing a life-threatening head injury. A cause of death has not yet been released. The University of Whitworth, where Hart played, confirmed his death and paid tribute to his character, saying he was loved by teammates, coaches, professors and friends.