YOUTH'S DEATH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18975, 27 March 1936, Page 5

YOUTH'S DEATH

FOLLOWS PARALYSIS AFTERMATH OF TENNIS SYDNEY, March 18. Despite strenuous efforts by ambulance men and doctors to save his life, John MacDonald Greene, 18, who was stricken with paralysis after a game of tennis at Canberra last week-end, died in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Monday night. The youth was the oidy son of Mr. and Mrs. John Greene, of Joffre street, Junee. He was very successful in the recent Leaving Certificate examination, and recently was appointed to the Government service in Canberra. When playing tennis at the week-end, Greene complained of severe pains in the back. Later he went to bed, and it was then found that he had lost the use of the lower part of his body. The Goulburn District Ambulance brought him to the Lewisham private hospital, and he was later transferred to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment by a specialist. A doctor said last night that such a cause of death was unusual in a young mail. Children were more often affected. However, older persons could suffer from attacks in unusual circumstances. During the war a number of eases were reported among soldiers. Symptoms of general illness generally preceded an attack by 21 or 48 hours, and, if these were regarded seriously by the sufferer, a doctor could prevent the disease from becoming serious or fatal in most circumstances. Greene, the doctor said, probably felt ill, but disregarded his symptoms and carried on with his game.