DEATH OF A JOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 12

DEATH OF A JOCKEY.

TREATMENT AFTER FALL.

BROTHERS MAKE PROTEST.

CLEARED UP BY EVIDENCE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAUMARUNUI. Friday. The inquest into the death of the wellknown jockey, Con Reed, was held today before the district coroner, Mr. T. S. Laird. Evidence given by other riders, Samuel Anderson and W. A. Rennie, went to show that the fatality was purely accidental. Anderson said the deceased told hira before the race that his mount had a bad mouth, and only answered to the bit on one side. Reed received every attention from the officials after the accident, and was immediately removed to the hospital.

Roy Reed, brother of the deceased, said ho was not at the races, but ho was not satisfied with tho treatment his brother received on the course. There should have been an ambulance and ; first aid man on the course all the time. George Reed, another brother, said his brother was put into an ordinary touring car and taken to the hospital. Witness wished to know if the bumping of the car caused tho deceased's ribs to pierco tho lungs, or whether tho bumping would acpelerato hemorrhage of the brain. In the opinion of witness riding in a car would prejudice his brother's chance. He wished his protest to be recorded, and did not think any club should be allowed to race without an ambulance on the course. Evidence was given by officials of the club that soon alter the accident happened tho deceased was carefully lifted into a car and driven round to the stewards' room. He was then placed on a stretcher and a doctor was called immediately. Later tho stretcher was placed on a car and the deceased was removed to the hospital. There was no ambulance car in Taumarunui. Medical evidenco was given that tho deceased was attended to as soon as he was brought in, and was removed to the hospital as soon as possible. Tho deceased was placed on a stretcher in the car, and was moved very carefully. Tho injury to tho lungs was caused when Reed was thrown bv his mount. Tho deceased was suffering from very severe concussion and two fractured ribs on tho right side, causing penetration of the lungs. An operation was found necessary, but the deceased died later. m The coroner said he had probed into the whole position, and thought tho complaint that the deceased had not received the best of treatment had been cleared up by the evidence, which showed that everything possible had been done for him. No blame was attachable to anyone. He would commend to the attention of the stewards of the club, however, that there should bo a room with all facilities for attention to injured jockeys. A verdict of accidental death was returned.