Teen died in bullet game
A teenager from Cradley Heath died when a piece of metal pierced his chest as he played with bullet blanks, an inquest heard.
Daniel Price, aged 19, of The Terrace, Cradley Heath, died after he called out for help and collapsed into the arms of one of his friends.
The tragedy happened in Meadow Walk after Daniel went there with friends to let off metal "bullets" by striking them into a socket with a hammer.
The inquest heard that when Mr Price hit the metal with a hammer, part of the socket had broken and a fragment had flown out, pierced his chest and entered his lung.
Friend Brett Matthews said he and Mr Price had gone to Meadow Walk with the bullets which a group of friends had brought round to his house earlier that day.
He said they had been letting them off in the back garden but decided to go to the alleyway with another friend, Daniel Tomkins, after being concerned about causing a disturbance.
The inquest heard that Mr Price had crouched down and hit the bullet - of the type used in industrial nailguns - with the hammer, causing a bang and a flash.
Mr Matthews said Mr Price had called out to him for help before collapsing into his arms.
Sandwell coroner Robin Balmain said a group of Daniel's friends had taken the strips of metal from a portable office. "Daniel died as a result of playing with what can best be described as bullets used the construction industry," he added.
Mr Balmain recorded a verdict of accidental death.
