FATALITIES AT FOOTBALL MATCHES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7140, 30 May 1910, Page 1

FATALITIES AT FOOTBALL MATCHES

PLAYER'S FATHER lECIS EEA TRAGIC OCCURRENCE AT ATHLETIC PARK, MR FREDERICK E. HILLS. A sudden silence came over the large crowd of spectators at the Athletic Park oil Saturday afternoon by an incident which* occurred just at tho close of the first spell in the St. JamcsPoncke match, Mr Frederick Robert Hills, an elderly man, father of one of the front rankers on the St. James side, was standing on the western bank of- the ground in the vicinity of where the old scoring board used, to be, when he was seen to fall, as if overcome by faintness. It was soon peicoivcd that his plight was serious, and Drs Gilmer, Napier McLean, and Pigeon, who were on the ground, went to render what assistance they could, in addition to members -of tho first aid corps. There was no possibility of doing anything for Mr Hills, who expired almost immediately, and was carried across tho ground on a stretcher as tho players were trooping out to again* take the field. '

There was a curious * stillness in. the air as the bearers of the body made their way across the playing area, tho silence being all tho more impressive after the roar of excited voices which for almost an hour previously had been, continuous.

Just as the body was being conveyed through tho gates tho son of the deceased rushed in his football clothes for his mother, who was sitting in tho grandstand. "Is mother hereP** ho asked. “It’s dad!’* ho said, on perceiving her, and the two made their way with arms round each other as fast aa they could in the direction of the vanishing stretcher. Mr Hills, who resided at 39, Daniel street, was a clerk in the employ * of Prouse Lumber, Ltd., and had been, v under medical treatment by Dr James* for some time ■ past, being a sufferer from smoker’s heart. Death.wns duo to 1 this cause, brought on by the excitement of the match. Dr James is prepared to give a medical certificate to this effect. SIMILAR FATALITY AT PALMERSTON. MR GEORGE . EXPIRES. AN OLD-TIME RESIDENT' OF WELLINGTON. MtOH ora OWN COEEESPONDEKT. PALMERSTON, May 29. An elderly man named George Flyger* a resident of Graham street, died suddenly at about a quarter to 4 yesterday afternoon at the Show Ground, where he was watching tho football matches. Ho was well-known in Palmerston, Wanganui and Wellington, and worked as & tailor at Folding for some years. Deceased, who was about sixty-threo years of age, took a great' interest in football, and was a regular attendant at the matches. He was leaning against tho* fence surrounding the oval, and did not' appear to be at all excited about tho Palmerston-Feilding senior match, which he was watching. He simply collapsed and fell. »

At first it was thought Mr Flygop had taken a fit, but when a doctor arrived a quarter of an hour later, life was, extinct. Ho leaves a widow and family. The deceased was a cousin of Hr J. J. Flyger, of Cuba street, "Wellington. A sister (Mrs Dempsey) of the late Mp Flyger resides in Brougham street. A brother, Mr W. Flyger, is' in business as a tailor and dyer at Auckland. About twenty-five years ago the late Mr Flyger was one of the crack rifle shots of New Zealand. He was a native of- England, and came out to Wellington with his mother and family w'hen a boy. His father had died previously to this while on his way to New Zealand by the samo sailing vessel which brought the late Dr France to New Zealand. The deceased set up in business as » master tailor at Wanganui, and was captain of a volunteer corps during the Maori outbreak. About twenty years ago he was in business in the Athenaeum buildings in Wellington, from which place ho transferred to Feilding, whom he had a tailoring business.