STRUCK BY BAT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 67, 20 March 1928, Page 11

STRUCK BY BAT

FATAL CRICKET ACCIDENT - The incident during a cricket match on the Eastbourne Recreation Ground on Sunday, which resulted^ in the death of a fifteen-year-old youth, Thomas Smith Martin Mallinson, was investigated at an inquest held before the Coroner (Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M.), to-day. Dr. W. M. Shand gave 'evidence that while .he was watching the match he saw the deceased, who was keeping wickets, stand up to receive a' high ball.'. The. batsman- swung- round to strike the ball, which - appeared to the witness to hit the deceased on the left side of tho head. The deceased collapsed, but got up again in about two minutes and went on playing. Witness was called to tho deceased at 6.30 p.m. on tho samo.day, and found him unconscious and with all the. symptoms of pressure 'on the:left1 'side of the'brain. The City Ambulance was immediately summoned, but the docoased died beforo ho could bo removed to the Hospital. Death, was duo to a rupturo of a' small vessel on'the inner wall of tho skull and subsequent pressuro on the brain. Robert Leo Grant, a bank clerk, living at Eastboumo, said that ho was batting in tho match. Ho swung round to strike at a ball just as tho deceased stood up. Witness, considered that the bat hit tho deceased.' Ho fell on the ground dazed, but after a few minutes 1 wont on playing. Ho played again in the afternoon for about half an hour, but then complained of a headache and went home. Witness considered that tlio deceased was a good wicket-keeper. Abraham Mallinson, father of tho deceased, also gave evidonce. Remarking that tho caso was an extremely sad 0n0,..th0. .Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with tho modicar testimony, adding that the injury was caused by tho deceased being accidentally struck by a bat. The ovidonco showed that the whole.thing was purely accidental. '