Robert Attard, the 18-year-old who early on Sunday was injured while tray-sliding in Ta’ Qali, died yesterday.

Mr Attard, from Żebbuġ, had suffered serious head injuries after he flew off a pallet and slammed against a wall when he was being towed by a friend in a pickup truck.

His condition was critical from the outset and tests carried out yesterday confirmed he was brain dead. His body was being kept on life-support as there was the possibility of some of his organs being donated.

The young man driving the vehicle involved in the incident is expected to be charged in court even though the victim would have consented to the stunt, sources said.

“Tray-sliding” involves sitting or standing on a tray, or, in this case, a pallet, and being towed by a vehicle, much like a boat would tow a water-skier.

There is no law defining tray-sliding as illegal and police sources said earlier this week they were venturing into a new area in this regard, especially in light of the fact that many officers had never come across it.

The driver is likely to face charges of reckless driving. It was specified he was not under the influence of alcohol.

About four other friends were standing about 30 metres away and there was a passenger in the truck when the accident occurred, the sources said. Investigators have not yet established exactly why Mr Attard “flew off” the pallet because the area, just outside the motocross track, was full of tyre marks, making it hard to distinguish between those made by the pickup truck and other vehicles, the police sources said.