BOXING FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1930, Page 5

BOXING FATALITY

INQUEST PROCEEDINGS.

(By Telegraph—Prese Association).

PALMERSTON N., August 27

At an inquest to-day before Mr A. J. Graham, Coroner, concerning the death of Peter Rush of Blenheim, who collapsed during the. boxing tournament oh. Friday evening and died at the hospital at mid-day on Saturday, Dr Ward (medical superintendent of Palmerston North, hospital) stated that on admission the deceased showed no sign of external injury, but an investigation of the nervous system disclosed extreme pressure on the brain. An operation was performed to relieve the pressure on the brain which was very congested. Deceased improved slightly but gradually got worse and passed away. A post mortem showed haemorrhage on the side of the brain, but no sign of a fracture Of the skull. The heart was healthy. The cause of death was coma, following haemorrhage on the‘side of the brain.

In reply to the Coroner, the witness said he thought the haemorrhage was due to the rupture of a vein of one of the vessels covering the brain. If could be. caused by a blow which need not he a heavy one. Senior-Sergeant Whitehouse stated there were eighty contests at the tournament, Only about eight boxers were knocked out. This Mitvy weight bout was about the tamest of the lot. In reply to a question, Dr Ward stated a haemorrhage of that nature has occurred in children after , sneezing or coughing. The condition was not necessarily caused by a blow, A violent effort could produce the .same effect as a blow.

Joseph Herbert Rush, uncle of deceased, stated he was present at the boxing and did not see undue roughness. '■ ■ • ; ' Senior-Sergeant Whitehouse said all the regulations of the Act were complied with at the tournament. He witnessed Rush’s bout,. No blows reached the head in either contest. No severe blow was struck at all.

‘J In giving his, verdict, the Corpfler said the cause of death was the condition following upon a haemorrhage of the right side of the brain. I must add, said the Coroner, that it was a result of an injury received during a boxing contest. The medical evidence shows deceased was'in every way per-, fectly.,healthy, and was in that condition on admission to the hospital, except for the haemorrhage. It seems his death could have either resulted from ail extreme blow or 'from some violent exercise. The Doctor states the cause of death was contributed to by the form of exercise in which lie was engaged at the time of the boxing bout. Doubtless the injury was received during the bout but whether from a blow or some violent effort by the deceased himself it is extremely difficult to say. lam satisfied the' bout was not'severe, Apparently no head blows were struck and death was due to misadventure. The verdict is in accordance with the medical evidence.

It must be satisfactory to the public, concluded the Coroner to have tne assurance of the police that every care is taken at. these contests to avoid anything df a violent nature. The correct name of the boxer is Percy Joseph Rush.