SERIOUS FOOTBALL CASUALTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 34

SERIOUS FOOTBALL CASUALTY.

AN OTAGO PLAYER BADLY INJURED.

The Otago v. Southland interprovincial football match, played at the Caledonian. Ground on Saturday afternoon, was attended by one of those foTtuuately rare but infinitely regrettable accidents that seem to be not altogether avoidable in a game characterised by the strenuous vigour of football. Towards the close of the first spell, when play was hot under Otago's goal, and Southland were pressing- hard, W. Bailey, an Otago forward, sustained an injury as a result of which he now lies in a critical condition, 'a the Hospital. The exact circumstances under which Bailey sustained the injury could not be clearly witnessed, as there? was a scramble on at the time, but when* play shifted it was seen that Bailey had not risen. The unfortunate young man waa found to have lost the use of his lower; limbs. Dr Macpherson was promptly on the scene, and the verdict was soon known that Bailey had sustained a serious injury to the spine. The ambulance was sent for. and the injured man conveyed to th© Hospital with all despatch. Th© incident* threw a gloom over spectators and players alike, and though the match was played out interest in it was palpably not the same as before. It is a melancholy coincidence thafe it was just six years ago to the day. andi near the same spot on the same ground,, that Olago's famous _ three-quarter-back. A. Arinit. sustained a similar and, in his case, fatal injury, in the Otago-Taranaki match. There is no suggestion at all that rough! play was the cause of the accident to Bailey: it appears that he had the misfortune to fall with several others on top of him, and lie possibly partly turned tt somersault.

An operation was performed on Sunday, but ihouph he recovered from tho effects cf that operation he slowly sank, and died at 9 o'clock on Tuesday night. Bailey iva.a a member ol the Southern Football Club.