FATAL GAME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 167, 2 August 1937, Page 8

FATAL GAME

Preas AiBoeiatios.)

Young Man Dies from Rugby Injury STRUCK ON HEAD

(By Telegraph—

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Injured on the head while playing in a Bugby football match at Meeretu, Colin John McLean, aged 21, a member of the Waipu junior team, collapsed and died suddenly at Whangarei hospitai early this morning. Last year deceased was a member of the Otamatea junior representative team and he had always taken an interest in various forms oi' sport in the Waipu district. Evidence was given by deceased 's father, John McDonald McLean, farmer, of Waipu, at the inquest, which was opened at the Whangarei hospitai. He stated that: his son wai a'single man and was employed on his farin. Witness was a spectator at the match, which was against the United team, and it appeared to be quite a clean game. Witness added that his son was knocked out soon after the commencement of the. game and he took him to his car. However, after half-time he returned to the field and as soon as the ball was kicked o'ff witness could see he was still not well and went on and took him off the field. Later, as he was still complaining of ■his head, and as there was neither a doctor nor an ambulance man on the ground, witness took him to the Whangarei hospitai. Dr. Dawson, assistant medical superintendent of the Whangarei hospitai, said deceased was admitted at 6 p.m. and was quite conscious and rational. Examination showed that there was a small lump on the left side of the skull and deceased also complained of painB in the head. Witness saw him again later in the evening, when he appeared to be in good conditiqn with no signs of any f urther injuries. He was awake and spoke to the night sister at 12.45 ;a.m., but, he. collapsed at 1.1Q a.m. and ihe died five minutes later. Witness was ,not prepared to say definitely what was ithe cause of death, but he believed it •to be haemorrhage within the skull or joedema >of the brain.5 The Coroner adjourned the inquest jsine die and • ordered • ■ a post mortem | examination to be made.