The January air hung cold and damp over the Mountbatten Leisure Centre, a typical evening for a friendly game of five-a-side football. But the routine would shatter in a moment, leaving a family devastated and a community reeling from an unthinkable tragedy.
Albert Xhediku, a young man known for his passionate spirit, went to retrieve a ball that had strayed beyond the pitch markings. It was a simple task, a common occurrence in any game, but this time, fate intervened with cruel precision.
As he returned with the ball, Albert made contact with a floodlight and its supporting lamppost. A surge of electricity coursed through his body, throwing him into a violent seizure. His friends, witnessing the horrific event, rushed to his aid, but were themselves shocked in the attempt to pull him free.
Despite the frantic efforts of those present and the subsequent arrival of emergency services, Albert never regained consciousness. He was pronounced dead later that evening at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, a vibrant life extinguished in an instant.
Those who knew him remember Albert as a man who embraced life with unwavering enthusiasm. He wasn’t one to do things halfway; even a casual football match was played with the intensity of a championship final. He was, above all, a loving son and a cherished brother.
The inquest revealed the devastating sequence of events, confirming Albert’s death was caused by electrocution. The simple act of retrieving a football had turned into a fatal encounter with a dangerously compromised floodlight.
Investigations led to charges being filed against Parkwood Community Leisure Ltd, the organization responsible for the leisure centre, alleging a failure to uphold health and safety standards. The case is currently proceeding through the courts, with a hearing scheduled for December 2025.
The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of rigorous safety checks and maintenance, particularly concerning electrical equipment in public spaces. A moment of recreation became a moment of profound loss, leaving an enduring void in the lives of those who loved Albert Xhediku.
The five-a-side pitch, once a place of laughter and camaraderie, now stands as a silent testament to a life cut short, a somber echo of a game that ended in unimaginable heartbreak.
