CHAMPIONSHIP BOXER’S DEATH

Hawera Star, Volume L, 27 August 1930, Page 9

CHAMPIONSHIP BOXER’S DEATH

COLLAPSE DURING BOUT. HAEMMORHAGE OF BRAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., Aug. 27. An inquest was -held l to-day before Mr A. J. Graham, coroner, concerning the death of Percy Joseph Rush, of Blenheim, who coila-psen (during the championship -boxing tournament on Friday evening and died in hospital at midday on Saturday. Dr. Ward, medical superintendent of the- Palmerston North Hospital, -stated that on admission de-eeaseci showed no sign of external injury, but in-vet,iga-tions of the nervous system disclosed extreme pressure on the brain. An operation was performed to relieve the pressure and deceased improved slightly but gradually got worse and passed away. A post mortem showed haemorrhage- on tiie side of the, brain. There was no sign of a fracture of the skull and the heart was healthy. The cause of death was coma., following a haemorrhage of the side of the brain. In reply to the coroner, witness thought the haemorrhage was idiue to a rupture qf one of the, vessels covering the brain, which could be caused by a blow, which need not be a heavy one. Senior Sergeant White-house stated that there were 80 contests at the tournament-, and only about eight boxers had been knocked out. This was a heavy-weight bout, and about the tamest of the lot.

In reip-lv to a question, Dr. Ward stated that haemorrhage of that nature had occurred in children after sneezing or coughing. The condition was not necessarily caused by a blow, and violent effort could produce the same effect as a blow.

Joseph Herbert Rush, uncle of deceased, stated that he was present at the boxing and did not see any undue roughness. Senior Sergeant Whitehouse said that all the regulations of the Act were complied with at the tournament. He witnessed Bush’s bout. No blows reached the head of either contestant- amid 1 no severe blows were struck at all. Giving his verdict the coroner said the cause of death was a condition following upon haemorrhage of the right -ide of the brain. “I must add,” said the coroner, “that it was as the result of injury received during the boxing contest. Medical evidence shows that deceased was in way perfectly 1 hbnlthv and was in that condition on bis admission to hospital, except for • ■'"ino'ihage. It seems his death could either have resulted from an external blow or from some violent exercise. The doctor states the cause of death was contributed to by tbe form of exercise in which be was engaged at the time ,of tbe boxing bout. Doubtless the injury was received during tbe bout, but whether from a blow or some violent effort bv deceased himself is extremdv difficult to say. lam satisfied the bout was not severe. Apparently no head blows were struck and death was due to misadventure. The verdict- is in accordance with the medical evidence. “It must he satisfactory to the wublic,” concluded the coroner, “to have the assurance of the police that everv care is taken in these contests to avoid anything of a violent nature.