COLLAPSE OF A BOXER

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1930, Page 6

COLLAPSE OF A BOXER

HAEMORRHAGE OF THE BRAIN. NO BLOW STRUCK ON HEAD. ' By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston N., Aug. 27. An inquest was ' held to-day before Mr. A. J Graham, coroner, concerning the death of Percy Joseph Rush, of Blenheim, who collapse during a boxing tournament on Friday evening and died in hospital at midday on Saturday. Dr. Ward, medical superintendent of Palmerston North hospital, stated that [on admission Rush showed no sign of external injury, but investigation of his nervous system disclosed extreme pressure on the brain. An operation was performed to relieve the pressure on the brain, which was very congested. Rush improved slightly, but- gradually became worse and died. A'post-mortem showed haemorrhage from the side of the brain. There was no sign of a fracture of the skull. The heart was healthy and the cause of death was ; coma following haemorrhage" from the; side of the main. In reply to the ' coroner witness ? thought the haemorrhage was due to the rupture of a vein of one of the vessels covering the brain... This could be caused by . a blow, which need not be: a. heavy ■one. • . Senior-Sergean £ • Whi tchpuse, ’ . stated that in 80 contests at: the tournament only about eight boxers were, knocked out. This heavyweight'bout was about the tamest of the lot.

In reply to a question Dr. Ward stated that haemorrhage of that nature had occurred in children after sneezing or coughing. The condition was not necessarily caused by a blow. A .iolent effort could produce the same effect as a blow.

Joseph Herbert Rush, uncle of deceased, Stated that he was present at the boxing And; did not see undue roughness, < Senior-Sergeant Whitehouse said, that all the regulations bfpthe Act were complied with at the tournament. •He witnessed Rush’s bout. ■; No ’/blows .reached the head of-either contestant, .No severe blows . were-Struck at’all. '.<t

Givif»g : fiis verdict; the Coroner’-.’said that the? 'cause; of death ? was -the condition following upon haemorrhage of the right side, of the brain/ “I must add,” said the coroner, “that it was as the result of an injury received during a boxing contest. The medical evidence shows that Rush was in every way perfectly healthy and was in that condition on admission to the hospital, except for the haemorrhase. It seems that his death could have resulted either from an external blow or from some violent exercise. The doctor states that the cause of death was contributed to by the form of exercise in w’ ch Rush was engaged at the time, a boxing bout.. Doubtless the injury was received during the bout but, whether from a blow or soihe violent effort by Rusli himself is extremely difficult to say. I am satisfied that the bout was not severe and apparently no head blows were struck. Death was due to misadventure.” The verdict was in accordance with the medical evidence.

“It must be satisfactory to the public,” concluded the coroner, “to have the assurance of the police that every care was taken in these contests to avoid anything of a violent nature.”