DEATH OF BOXER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1061, 27 August 1930, Page 1

DEATH OF BOXER

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST VERDICT OF MISADVENTURE Press Association PALMERSTON N., Today. The inquest was held today before Mr. A. J. Graham, coroner, concerningl the death of Percy Joseph Rush, of Blenheim, who collapsed during the boxing tournament on Friday evening and died in hospital at midday on Saturday. Or. Ward, medical superintendent at the Palmerston North Hospital, stated that on admission Rush showed no sign of external injury, but investigation of his nervous system disclosed extreme pressure on the brain. An operation was performed to relieve the pressure on the brain, which was very congested. ’ Rush improved slightly, but gradually got worse and died. A post-mortem revealed a haemorrhage on the side of the brain. There was no sign of a fracture of the skull and the heart was healthy. The cause of death was coma following haemorrhage of the side of the brain. In reply to the coroner, witness said he thought a haemorrhage clue to the rupture of a vein of one of the vessels covering the brain could be caused by a blow which need not be a heavj’ one. Senior-Sergeant ‘Whitehouse stated that at 80 contests at the tournament only about eight boxers were knocked out. This heavyweight bout was about the tamest of the lot. In reply to a question. Dr. Ward stated that a haemorrhage of that nature had 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 that he was present at the boxing and did not see undue roughness. Senior-Sergeant Whitehouse said all the regulations of the Act had been complied with at the tournament. He witnessed Rush’s bout, and no blows reached the head of either contestant. No severe blows were struck at all. CORONER’S VERDICT Giving his verdict, the coroner said the cause of death was the condition following upon haemorrhage of the right side of the brain. “I must add,” said the coroner, “that it was as a result of an injury received during a boxing contest. The medical evidence shows that deceased was in every way perfectly healthy, and was in that conditiion on admission to hospital. except lor the haemorrhage. It seems that his death could have resulted either from an external blow or from some violent exercise. The doctor states the cause of death was contributed to by the form of exercise in which Rush was engaged at the time, a boxing bout. Doubtless an injury was received during the bout, but whether from a blow or some violent effort by deceased himself it is extremely difficult to say. I am satisfied that the bout was not severe. Apparently no head blows were struck. Death was due to a misadventure, and the verdict is in accordance with the medical evidence.

‘‘lt must be satisfactory to the public,” concluded the coroner, “to have the assurance of the police that every care is taken in these contests to avoid anything of a violent nature.”