Report Of Death Was Hoax

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30533, 31 August 1964, Page 1

Report Of Death Was Hoax

CN.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 30. The All Black forward, K. R. Tremain and his father were the victims of a sadistic hoax telephone call on Saturday. On the basis of the call they were told immediately after the test that the footballer’s brother had been killed in an accident. The call was made before the game to the hotel where the All Blacks were staying. The

caller asked that officials be advise I at Athletic Park, but that they should not tell Tremain till after the game. The hotel immediately rang the officials at the park. The information was held from Tremain till after the match. Then officials broke the news to him and to his father who had travelled from Hastings for the match.

Tremain has two brothers. His father

called Hastings and learned that both were well and that there had been no accident. News of the hoax spread at Athletic Park as the crowd was still leaving, but many left the ground unaware that in fact it was a hoax. The chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr T. C. Morrison, informed those at the after-match function that it was known there was no truth in the report.