The football world was recently shaken by the devastating news that Billy Vigar, a talented young player, has passed away. Beyond the headlines and tributes, his death stands as a tragic reminder of why health and safety can never be taken for granted - not in sport, not at work, and not in our everyday lives.

Stories of young lives lost remind us that health and safety is not just about compliance or paperwork, it is about protecting people, families, and futures.

Billy, 21, tragically died from a significant brain injury after colliding with a concrete wall during a match. He was playing for Chichester City against Wingate & Finchley when the incident occurred. Despite being placed in an induced coma and receiving urgent medical treatment, Billy sadly passed away from his injuries.

His death comes just three years after a similar incident in 2022, when footballer Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured skull in near-identical circumstances.

"This tragedy is even harder to bear, knowing that the warnings were there," Luke Griggs, chief executive of brain injury charity Headway, told BBC Sport.

In response, the Football Association has announced a review of perimeter walls at football grounds within the National League system. But there are wider lessons to learn from this:

• How are risks identified, reported, and acted upon in any industry?
• Are hazards spotted early and addressed, or only once an incident has already happened?

• How often should infrastructure that seems “fixed” or long-standing be reassessed?

This is as much about culture as it is about procedure. Whether in football, construction, healthcare, or elsewhere, genuine safety depends on creating environments where risks are taken seriously and preventive action comes before tragedy.

Moving forward

While nothing can undo this tragedy, it can help to prevent others. That means:

• Addressing concerns before they escalate into harm.
• Building a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility, every day.
• Taking action immediately after an incident occurs.

Billy Vigar’s death is a loss that resonates far beyond football. It is a reminder that safety is not optional, and that vigilance, empathy, and action are what keep people safe.

As a health and safety community, let’s take this moment to reflect and learn, because behind every rule, every policy, and every campaign is a human life that deserves protection.

Tragedies like this remind us why health and safety matters so much. To keep the conversation going, and to learn from others across the industry, sign up to our Health Safety Digital Newsletter.