FOOTBALLER’S DEATH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20572, 4 June 1941, Page 10

FOOTBALLER’S DEATH

CHOKED BY CHEWING-GUM The suggestion that referees might well ascertain before the match started which players were chewing gum was made by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at an inquest in Auckland into the death of Gunner Trevor Leonard Williams, aged 20. who died on the Devonport Domain, during a football match on May 21. The coroner said the medical evidence disclosed that a piece of chewing-gum two inches long by half an inch at the widest part was found at the bottom of deceased’s windpipe. Bombardier Peter Stunner, who acted as referee in the friendly match in which deceased was playing, said Williams was about 15ft. from’ the play when he suddenly pitched forward on his lace. Witness immediately stopped the game and went over to him. Dr. Cl M. Rout arrived about five minutes later, but, Williams had stopped breathing. The game was a friendly one between teams representing two military units, and there was no rough play.

The report of the pathologist disclosed that deceased died of asphyxia caused by a foreign body in (lie windpipe.

A _ verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.