A FOOTBALLER'S DEATH.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17128, 25 April 1921, Page 8

A FOOTBALLER'S DEATH.

COLLISION ENDS FATALLY. Sailer? after a spell of the game played for Sydenham, on ac count of a shortage in that tann J>ur ing the tot half he collided with a 'Christdmrch player »^^ T ?lTaw B Y on the chert. He was then taken way | n the nital «tfea t. «ell-known old SnterJy footballer. In Kg he nja,ed for Canterbury terbury, and the Joflowmft }|ar n played against Wellington. Ho n» Sydenham. ]NQUEST The inquest was conducted by the Coroner, Mr S. E. McCarthy, at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon Joilin Murdoch Anderson,, who was a spectator at the match, «aid that tne deceased had received a tump on tne chest, and complained to him about it shortly after. Ho said the play: was loose at the time. A ChnsWhurch player was coming towards him, ana Aitken collared him, and the UiriSuchurch player's head or knee bumpea into his chest. After he recovered 'his wind, he took the place of full-back. He did not, however, play for two or thres minutes, and during Ihat time was retching badly, but he said he felt a little better, and he went back into vns field, but half-time sounded two minutes after that, and Aitken walked ahead of the other players to the dress-ing-room. About five minutes after the other players had left the dressingroom, witness again saw the deceased who -was then unconscious, and was being attended to by two ambulance men. He was then taken away in the ambuThe Coroner: Did you notice anything on the field that was not in- accordance with the ordinary rules of the game? Witness: No. Everything was played fair and square? Yes, I think so. Daniel Gunn and Albert Sefton Kennedy, Sydenham players, gave similar evidence', and said tJhey were sure the collision was purely accidental. There was no rough play. John M. Stanley, a member of the St. John Ambulance Association, said he did not see the accident, but he noticed the deceased sitting between the goal posts, and, with Osborne, another member of tihe Ambulance, witness went over to where Aitken was sitting. When asked how he felt, the deceased did net reply, but some of tho other players said he was just winded. After the half-time spell, Osborne went over to another match on tftie Show Ground, and witness remained in the dressingroom to attend to two players for, minor injuries. He then noticed Aitken sitting on the bench. In reply to a question, deceased said he was feeling pretty bad. Witness gave him a drink of water, and deceased said that a man should only play football when he was fit, and ihe added that 'he last game he played was in 1908. A few minutes after he collapsed and began to froth at the mouth, and a doctor and the ambulance waggon were sent for. The deceased was treated on the spot for apoplexy, but shortly after breathing ceased, and resuscitation methods tried were not effective. Witness thought the deceased died before he was put into the ambulance waggon. Dr. A. B. Pearson, who carried out a post-mortem examination on the body of deceased, said the only external injury was a slight bruise on the right lower rib. He detailed the condition of the organs, and said tfhat there were signs of old nleurisy on both sides of the chest, and tho heart was dilated.' Death was due" to heart failure _ associated with progressive inflammation of the aorta and the blood vessels to the Iheart. Any undue exertion would largely contribute to sudden death in an individual who showed signs of gland activity. Mr W. A.' Britten asked whether, had a doctor been at the football ground at the time of the accident, the deceased's life would have been saved. Dr. Pearson said it was" a very difficult question to answer. The use of cardiac stimulants by injection, not by tlhe mouth, might have been effective in saving the man's life. The Coroner returned a. verdict that death was due to heart failure, accelerated hy the violent exercise that deceased was engaged in at the time of the accident. He further found that there Was no rough play, and no apparent breach of tlie rules, and the collision that was the-immediate cause of the collapse of deceased was purely accidental and unintentional.

Before the usual business of the meeting of the Canterbury Rugby League's executive on Saturday night commenced, the chairman, Mr A. E. Hooper, said that it was with regret; that he had to announce the deatlh of Mr A. Aitken, who was one of the first E laying members that the league code ad had when the game was introduced locally. The late Mr Aitken had bee:a a very keen enthusiast, and after he had given up playing he had done good service on the administration side with the Sydenham Club. Ho ,ihad~ been a popular resident and a keen worker for the welfare, .of any sport in Sydenham. It was his keen enthusiasm that had made him dou a jersey that day to assist a team that was hard pushed to meet its engagements. Mr Hooper moved that a vote of sympathy and condolence be sent to deceased's wife and relatives.

Mr T. Kirton stated that'he had been associated with the late Mr Aitken for many years, both as a player and as a club committeeman. Mr Aitken had given loyal service, to the advantage of tike Sydenham teams. The speaker had also met Mr Aitken again when they were fighting in France, and he had showed the same spirit therf as he had shown on the football field. All members of tihe Sydenham Club would regret the loss of one of their oldest and most enthusiastic members. It was typical of the deceased to go to the assistance of a weak team, though he was not fully recovered from his injuries received on active service.

The motion was carried, memlrers standing. The chairman expressed tihe hope that every player and supporter who could do so would attend the funeral, which takes place at 2 p.m. to-morrow.