DISLOCATED NECK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 209, 5 September 1938, Page 11

DISLOCATED NECK.

WRESTLER'S DEATH. ACCIDENT TO AMATEUR. INQUEST OPENED. An accident during the preliminary boute of the Auckland provincial amateur wrestling championship* on Saturday evening resulted in the death yesterday morning of Herbert Walter Franklin, aged 24 years. He was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Franklin, of 21, Dark Crescent, Newmarket, and had been a prominent amateur wrestler during the pact eix years. Franklin was injured in going to the mat during the course of a bout in the featherweight division. He fell heavily, taking the full weight of the body on his head. The referee, Mr. D. J. Ashby, immediately broke the pair, and medical attention wae giren by Dr. J. D. C. Macky. It was eeen that hie condition was serious and he was taken to the hospital in a St. John ambulance. He wae given treatment there for a dielocated neck, but died some hours afterwards. It is the first time in the history of the Auckland association that such an accident has happened, and is particularly tragic in that it is considered almost impossible to cause serious injury in a wrestling bout under Olmypic rules. Wrestlers learn to fall in a relaxed manner. The funeral will take place tomorrow, leaving Davis Crescent at 2 pan. for the Crematorium. An inquest was opened this morning by the city coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, and adjourned after the father of deceased had given evidence. William George Franklin, master carrier, Newmarket, said deceased wae hie son and had oeen taking part in amateur wrestling bouts for some yeara, and had frequently wree-tled in the Auckland Town Hall. When deceased left home on Saturday about 12.45 p.m., he was then in his usual good health. Witness wae present at the Auckland Hospital yesterday morning when his son died.