INJURED PLAYERS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20495, 11 May 1938, Page 8

INJURED PLAYERS

DANGER OF REMOVAL^ NQARUAWAHIA FATALITY COMMENT AT INQUEST “In cases such as this in which Injury to the head, neck or back occur* it is in the patient’s interest that a doctor should be obtained rather than to transport him to u doctor,” commented Dr. G. B. Isdale, of Ngaruawahia, at the inquest yesterday into the circumstances surrounding the death of Paul Halbert 22), a quartercaste Maori farm hand of Taupiri, who was fatally injured while playing football at Ngaruawahia on April 23. Deceased suffered a fractured neck and died as a result of his injuries in the Waikato Hospital three days later. Some fractures of the spine do not involve damage to the spinal cord until the patient is moved without proper skill, commented the doctor but in the present case the X-ray report seemed to indicate that the damage to tha spinal cord occurred before the patient was moved. Describing the condition of deceased when he was brought to his surgery by car, the doctor stated that the patient had a complete paralysis of all limbs and was having trouble with respiration. He complained of pain in his neck and in witness’ opinion had suffered a fracture or a dislocation of the fifth or sixth vertibrae. His condition was very grave. Witness sent, deceased by ambulance to the Waikato Hospital. A Severe Impact Charles Hill, farm band, of Te Akau South, stated that on April 23 he was a member of a Taupiri team playing in a practice match at Ngaruawahia. Deceased was playing in the opposing team. Shortly after half-time deceased began to run with the ball. He avoided several tacklers, but was eventually tackled from behind by another player. Witness tackled deceased from the front as he was falling and deceased’s head struck witness’ hip with a severe impact. Deceased did not get up and he was carried off the field and taken In a car to the doctor. Te Keepa Tahana, butcher, of Ngaruawahia, who was referee In the second spell of the match said the game was played in a very friendly spirit throughout. A. A verdict was returned that the deceased, Paul Halbert, died on April 26, 1938, from injuries he accidentally received while playing in a football match at Ngaruawahia on April 23. “The unfortunate death of this fine young man was purely accidental,” said Mr Platts. “No one was in any way to blame.”