Teen who survived deadly COP stunt says better signs, not fences could prevent similar deaths

One of the survivors of a deadly stunt at Canada Olympic Park believes better signage could help prevent similar tragedies.

Daniel Spalding was among a group of eight teenagers who snuck onto the grounds at COP to take toboggans down the bobsled track in 2016.

Twin brothers Evan and Jordan Caldwell were killed, and most of the other six teens received life-altering injuries.

Spalding walked away without any injuries. He testified on Wednesday at a week-longfatality inquiry looking into the brothers' deaths.

Inquiry counsel Nancy McCready asked if he had any recommendations as to what could be done to help prevent similar deaths.

"I think for us what might have made the biggest difference was if there is some mention of a big fine or something," said Spalding.

The 20 year old saidtwo years ago, the teenagers knew they were trespassingbut didn't stop to think about the consequences.

"If there was like, 'trespassers will be fined $1,500 bucks,' we'd be like, screw that, we're not going to do that."

Teens had gone down track before

Three of the eight teens, including Spalding, had gone down the track more than a week earlier using toboggans and a kayak.

Spalding saidthe teens chose the the bobsled track, instead of the luge, because it was higher, so they would go faster.

That night they had brought headlamps and helmets, and went down three times before driving away unnoticed.

"I remember seeing a security guard at the end when we were leaving. I gave them a wave and they waved back."

He said the same threereturned on Feb. 5, this time with a larger crowd of friends, mostly from their church youth group.

"We just kind of told them about it there was not a whole lot we thought could go wrong, yeah, just bring your sled and have fun."

But the second time they didn't bring helmets or headlampsbecause Spalding says it had gone so smoothly the first time.

The group of eight split up on three different toboggans, and off they went not realizing a metal barrier had been put in place by staff in preparation for luge events that weekend.

Spalding saidafter he went down the track things became chaotic. He's the one who called 911. He saidhe didn't realize the twins had died until after police had arrived.

"They were up the track from us so we didn't, I didn't actually see them till later, about maybe a half hour later."

Goal not to relive events, but to prevent future tragedies

Inquiry counsel McCreadyreminded Spalding the goal was not for him to relive that night, but to see if something can be done to prevent this from happening again.

Spaldingsaidhe went with his familyto re-visit the track earlier in the day, and he noticed the new fence that now surrounds all of the starting points along the bobsled and luge runs.

He saidhe supports these efforts and believes the fence will likely deter some people,but not everyone.

"The start gateitselfis closed off so we couldn`t have started there, but if you walk down 50 feet you can just hop on the side of the track and still get 90 per cent of the run."

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"We know it's been difficult for you and we know it's taken a lot of courage for you (to come here) and we thank you," said Bruce Churchill Smith, counsel for WinSport.

Spalding saidlosing two good friends has madehim reconsider his priorities and strengthened his Christian faith. He still keeps in close touch with the others and adds theyhave recovered quite well.

"But it's still definitely on all of our minds,for sure, it is never going to go away."

The inquiry continues Thursday with testimony from WinSport officials.

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