Lightning Shocks Soccer Players

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 13

Lightning Shocks Soccer Players

(N.Z.P.A-Reuter— Copyright) BIRMINGHAM, February 26. A lightning bolt flashed into a soccer ground in Birmingham yesterday injuring four players, one critically, during a quarterfinal match in the English Amateur Cup.

Three were taken to hospital and a fourth treated in the dressing room. A hospital spokesman said that the heart of one of the players, Tommy Allden, aged 23, had stopped, but was revived with an emergency operation. But he added: “His condition’s desperate.” The bolt struck during heavy rain. There was a slight rumbling and a dazzling lightning shaft lit up the field. A witness said that Allden fell to the ground with smoke rising from him. Three other players of the same team were writhing on the ground near him.

Other players crouched nearby, stunned by the flash. Sheet Of Flame

Another witness said: “Suddenly there was a sheet of flame—a big explosion—and everyone fell flat. When I looked up, Allden was lying on the ground.” AU four of the players struck were on the local Birmingham team of, Highgate. None of the opposing Enfield players were hurt. The Highgate trainer, Albert Rates, said: “I had to give Allden the ‘kiss of life.’ He was in a shocking state

and seemed absolutely stunned.” The other injured players were the Taylor brothers, Roy, aged 21, and Eric, aged 24, and Hughie Doherty, who was treated at the field.