FATAL WRESTLING FALL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22513, 22 September 1938, Page 17

FATAL WRESTLING FALL

YOUNG MAN’S DEATH AT AUCKLAND VERDICT OF MISADVENTURE RETURNED (FBZSB AasbOIATIOM TBLIOBUI.) AUCKLAND, September 21. “It appears to have been purely an accident,” said the Coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, in giving a verdict of death by misadvehture at an inquest on Herbert Walker Maccrow Franklin, a gas fitter, single, aged 24, of Newmarket, Franklin suffered fatal injuries during the elimination contest for the featherweight title at the Auckland provincial amateur wrestling championships on September 3. the accident, Franklin’s opponent, Frederick Nigel Whitcombe, a labourer, aged 23, said that they both fell forward, Franklin underneath. Instead of striking the mat with his shoulder, Franklin fell so that the base of his skull struck first. The witness had a headlock on him at the time and felt the bones in his neck give way as they fell. At the same time Franklin sighed, and sensing that there was something wrong, the witness released his hold and spoke to the referee. “We were the best of friends, having wrestled together on many occasions,” witness continued. “Our match was wrestled in the friendliest of spirits. Both of us were wrestling without any heat or animosity.” The referee of the contest, Herbert John Ashby, said that Franklin-did not strike his head exceptionally hard. He made a peculiar sound and did not move again, so the witness blew his whistle to stop the bout. Franklin Was conscious and said he was numb. He was not moved until he was examined by a doctor. The witness said that he saw no - sign of feeling between the contestants.

“The hold used was quite legitimate,” Ashby said. “The contest was wrestled under Olympic rules ■ which were formulated to prevent injury to contestants. In my opinion it was the way Franklin fell that caused his injury.” Dr. McKechnie said that death was due to a respiratory failure after compression of and hemorrhage into the spinal cord, resulting from a fracture and dislocation of the fifth cervical vertebrae.

The Coroner gave a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.