Gabriel Santer, 15, was a keen skateboarder who tragically died after falling from the sixth floor of the Hanover Street Q Park in Liverpool city centre in October 2020
A teenage skateboarder texted his mum what he wanted for dinner – hours later he was found dead.
Gabriel Santer’s father has launched a campaign for legal reform following the tragic death of his son, affectionately known as Gabe, at just 15.
The teenager from Garston, Liverpool, was an avid skateboarder and would often seek out spots to skate with his mates. On October 3 2020, Gabe was given permission by his parents to hang out with friends in Liverpool city centre – but they became worried when he didn’t come home.
In a previous interview with the Liverpool Echo., his father Johnny said: “Gabriel had a curfew of 9pm. Just before that time, his mum had messaged him to ask what he wanted for tea and he messaged back that he wanted ribs and chips.
“Then he missed his curfew and his mum started to get really worried really quickly. She had this sixth sense that something really bad had happened.”
The young skater’s life was tragically cut short after he fell from the sixth floor of the Hanover Street Q Park in Liverpool city centre. An inquest later disclosed that Gabe had consumed enough alcohol to severely intoxicate and disorient him at the time of his fall, reports
Coroner Andre Rebello concluded with an open verdict, expressing his belief that Gabriel did not intend to end his life and that the incident might have been accidental. Johnny is adamant that his son’s tragic death could have been avoided.
He accuses Q Park of ignoring previous warnings to enhance the safety measures in their car parks, such as increasing the height of the top floor perimeter fencing at the Hanover Street location. While his initial efforts are directed towards Q Park, he aims to instigate change throughout the entire multi-storey car park industry.
In a prior statement, a representative for Q Park expressed deep regret for the Santers’ loss but maintained that its Hanover Street car park had “outperformed building regulations.” The company further stated that an independent panel found no fault on Q Park’s part in Gabriel’s untimely death.
Under current legislation, pedestrian edge restraints at multi-storey car parks must be at least 1.1m high. Johnny has repeatedly highlighted to Q Park that while 1.1m may be the legal requirement, they should strive to exceed this minimum standard to ensure public safety.
Last year, Maria Eagle MP introduced the Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill, also known as Gabe’s Law, to Parliament. Due to a change in Government, the bill will need to be reintroduced, which is expected to occur early next year.
The proposed legislation, dubbed ‘Gabe’s Law’, could revolutionise safety in multi-story car parks by raising the minimum legal height of barriers from 1.1m to a towering 2.7m and mandating round-the-clock staffing at these sites. Meanwhile, Gabe’s father, Johnny, has teamed up with skate shop Lost Art and Liverpool John Moores University’s School of Art and Design for a heartwarming cause.
Together, they’re set to unveil a series of skateboard designs before auctioning them off to the highest bidder. The proceeds will go to mental health charities Mind and The Ben Raemers Foundation, which aids members of the skateboarding community, as well as to The Trussell Trust, a charity fighting poverty.
Johnny expressed his gratitude in a statement: “The skate community has come together to help raise the profile of Gabe’s Law and to support my campaign for the development of an Olympic skatepark in the city. I’m grateful to Lost Art for donating the used skateboard decks, the artists and students for their innovative designs and look forward to seeing the artwork and highlighting some of the issues relevant to the skate community, who often feel marginalised.”
Adding to this, Mike O’Shaughnessy from the graphic design and illustration programme at the School of Art and Design commented: “This is a unique collaboration born from a personal friendship and a tragic event. By joining with skaters, the creative community is not only helping to keep Gabe’s spirit alive and hopefully help change the law but also highlighting the need for a new world-class skatepark in the city.”
The event is set to take place on Thursday, December 12 at The Atrium Gallery, JLADA Building on Duckinfield Street, kicking off at 6.30pm. If you’re interested in attending the exhibition or placing a bid for the boards, drop an email to [email protected].
For more details, follow Gabe’s Law on X, Instagram or Facebook @Gabes_law or check out www.gabeslaw.org.
