BOXING FATALITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19283, 22 September 1924, Page 2

BOXING FATALITY.

PRELIMINARY INQUIRY.

Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., sitting as coroner, hold a. preliminary inquiry at Goodwood on Saturday into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ronald M’Callum, the young man who died as a result of injuries received while boxing at Palmerston on Friday night. Sergeant Boulton appeared for the police. Charles Thomas M’Callum, a brother of deceased, gave evidence as to identification. He stated that deceased was a competitor in a boxing tournament. He boxed with E. C. O’Connell in the middle-weight competition, and was knocked down. His age was 27 years. Dr Thomas said that he was present at the boxing tournament. Deceased seemed to suffer from no physical disability, and apppeared to be in good training. Towards the end of the second round of three minutes he received a blow in the face which caused him to stagger back, and in falling against the ropes he came to the floor and struck the back of his head. On being examined he showed all the symptoms of having fractured the base of his skull. Witness’s opinion was that death was due to shock, following a fracture of the skulk The portion of the floor where his head struck was padded To the Coroner : If there had been more padding at the side of the ring deceased would not, in his opinion, have fractured his skull. In his judgment, cushions were required round the ring, particularly in the case of amateur boxing. At this stage the inquest was adjourned sine die, to Dunedin.