FATAL ACCIDENT AT FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2988, 8 September 1891, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT AT FOOTBALL

A sad accident occurred daring a game of football at Epsom on Saturday, resulting in the death of one of the players, Mr Thomas Sibbin. The Association (fame was being played, which is usually considered much less dangerous than the Rugby game, and when in the actof running backwards to stop n ball Mr Sibbin came in contact with another player named Hough, falling backwards over hiin and pitching upon his head. None of those who witnessed the accident had any idea that any serious mishap had occurred, but as Mr Sibbin did not move one of his friends, Mr Goodie, went up to him and asked him was he hurt, when the injured man replied that he thought he wan badly hurt, and almost immediately became tmciiißciiius. The injured man was conveyed to the hospital with all speed, but although the medical staff did all they could under the circumstances, Mr Sibbin never regained consciousness, and died without speaking abont 6 p.m., the cause of death being a severe fracture at the base of the skull. Mr Sibbin is well-known in athletic circlcs, and wo believ-e ho was ono of a team of Auckland footballers who played in Waikato a few years ago. He is quite a young man, being only 31 years of a£*e, and loaves a widow and family of three young children, the eldost of whom is only five years of aeo. Much sympathy is felt for the family in their sudden bereavement under such distressing circumstances.