West Ham players had to rescue a young Crystal Palace ball boy after celebrating fans in the away end fall through the the advertising board.
The incident took place as Tomas Soucek had got West Ham’s opener against Crystal Palace. As Soucek approached the away supporters to celebrate, the board unexpectedly toppled forward, landing on the small ball boy at beside it.
In a commendable act, the midfielder stopped his celebrations to assist the child in freeing himself from beneath the board while Jarrod Bowen and Max Kilman also helped lift the boy from under the board before putting an arm around him.
Several players all directed him to safety, then handed him over to the stewards as medical staff ran across the pitch to offer their assistance and check him over.
On BBC Radio 5 Live, Jarrod Bowen said he saw the ball boy after the game and gave him his shirt and the boy was happy and smiling. All in all he was very lucky today to get away without getting badly hurt.
Reporter @MattWoosie tweeted: “Didn’t see who but one of the West Ham players gave their shirt to the ballboy who was in front of where the ad boards fell down in the celebrations of their goals. Bowen and others chatting to him at full-time as they were going down the tunnel and checking he was alright.”
Good to see the West Ham players rush to help the Ball Boy crushed under the collapse stand. Who knows how bad it could have been if they didn't intervene. Hope the lad is OK. pic.twitter.com/puffDhmML7
— The Chatterday Show (@ChatterdayShow) August 24, 2024
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 Advertising board collapses after West Ham fans stampede. ❌😬 pic.twitter.com/mWsWlx5xvv
— KinG £ (@xKGx__) August 24, 2024
Tomáš Souček rescued a ballboy who was trapped beneath an advertising hoarding after West Ham scored against Crystal Palace 👏 pic.twitter.com/7VX8CaEAnx
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 24, 2024
UPDATE: Palace ball boy has been assessed by medical staff and is fine.
Good to hear. pic.twitter.com/qncLUVLeKw
— West Ham (C)entral 🏆 (@WestHam_Central) August 24, 2024
As metnioned, Tomas Soucek put the Hammers in front in the second half; new West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen netted his first goal of the Premier League season to double the lead; and Eberechi Eze struck the crossbar for Crystal Palace, who have lost their first two games of the new campaign.
Player ratings (per Sky Sports):
Crystal Palace: Henderson (6), Richards (6), Riad (6), Guehi (7), Munoz (6), Wharton (7), Lerma (6), Mitchell (6), Edouard (6), Eze (7), Mateta (5).
Subs: Kamada (6), Sarr (7), Schlupp (n/a).
West Ham: Areola (6), Coufal (6), Mavropanos (7), Kilman (7), Emerson (6), Rodriguez (6), Bowen (7), Soucek (7), Paqueta (6), Kudus (7), Antonio (6).
Subs: Fullkrug (5), Wan-Bissaka (7), Alvarez (6), Todibo (n/a), Cresswell (n/a).
Player of the Match: Max Kilman.
Twitter users gave their reaction after seeing West Ham players rescue a Crystal Palace ball boy after celebrating fans fall through the advertising board…
@Ma6eS_9: He’s just a lovely human being
@Umber_Wolf: Brilliant situational awareness by him (and Bowen). Huge respect!
@DanNumbersWHU: Safety concerns don’t count when it comes to the money being made by the boards being in place
@Joey041992: The whole ground is unsafe
@NUFCThreatLevel: Awful that. They need to keep kids sat further away from them, they’re a real danger.
@ryanbeard2012: Well done Tomas. Maybe selhurst needs to upgrade from being a tin shed for safety reasons
@dizzyparkermoo: Fair Play to Soucek and Bowen for helping the young ball boy stuck under the barrier 🥹 Warms the old cockles for sure 🫶🏼 #WestHam #COYI #Ironssss. ⚒️
@_WestHamReport: Hope the Palace ball boy is okay. Scary experience for the young man no doubt. Well done to the players recognising straight away he was hurt ⚒️🫧
@roversfan09: Well done to Jarrod Bowen and Soucek for getting that ball boy from underneath the hoarding which collapsed, could have been nasty.
@PedroSouzaAFC_: ‘Limbs’ culture needs to be stopped bc how are you almost crushing a ball boy over a goal against Crystal Palace?
@ZombieRocker86: Souceck saving the ball boy! Legend. Poor kid was really shook up. He grab on to Bowen for dear life.
@TraceyPaul53629: Fair play to West ham an Thomas soucek who saved a ball boy from getting a quashed from an advertising board. Something has to be done about safety in stadiums. This child could have been seriously hurt or killed
@resecting1243: Soucek class act for helping the Palace ball boy out of the board
@PotemriDylan: I understand the excitement from fans and a lot of times I do enjoy the players going and celebrating with the fans. However when stuff like this happens it just seems reckless that they can be that close. Much respect to Souček for being aware and helping out the ball boy
That’s not the first time that has collapsed there. It happened last season when Chelsea played there. 🧐😮💨 pic.twitter.com/MWQ12p7mYP
— jackharris (@TimMarkDavies) August 24, 2024
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