FAMILY friends of a six-year-old boy who died in a quad biking accident are urging parents to think twice before allowing their children to take up the sport. The little lad died after being crushed by the machine during a fun day out in Mesaieed a fortnight ago. His distraught Turkish parents left Qatar shortly after the tragedy – unable to cope with the loss of their only son. A friend of the family told Gulf Times: “They didn’t want to stay. The memories were just too painful. And I would advise all parents in future that if they allow their children to use these machines they must stick close to them. It is a terribly sad lesson for this family to have learnt.” The six-year-old boy was fatally injured on May 23 after the quad bike he was riding flipped over and landed on him. Emergency services rushed to save the youngster, but there was nothing they could do to save him. Yesterday, businesses operating similar attractions close to the popular Sealine Resort said that his parents had to ultimately take responsibility for his death. Several Nepalese workers told Gulf Times that they refuse to hire out the bikes to those under the age of 18. However, they are unable to stop adults from permitting children to have a ride. One operator said: “It is fully the responsibility of the fathers to keep a close eye on their kids. This is the only solution to prevent a repeat of such a tragedy. “We understand the feelings of the bereaved family, but this is an entire business that constitutes a source of income.” Quad bikes have become a popular attraction among thrill-seeking beach-goers, who love to race over sand dunes at high speed. However, the machines are not toys. They are designed for driving across bumpy terrain and are therefore robust, heavy and powerful. As a result, many operators make customers sign a disclaimer before renting out the vehicles. And this is no exception in Doha. As a consequence, the Turkish family has no legal claim for compensation, and as the accident happened off-road and involved no other vehicle, there was no formal traffic police investigation. An Egyptian quad bike operator in Mesaieed, said there was a good police presence during the busy weekends – to deter bikers from venturing onto the main roads and endangering other motorists. He also said that ambulances were available around-the-clock near to the Sealine Resort. “Although accidents are taking place almost daily, the majority of them are involving riders who bring their personal bikes to enjoy the sport,” he said. A Traffic Department official said that under the new traffic law bikes over 50cc would be considered as vehicles requiring a driving licence and registration number plate. Gulf Times

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