Umpire dies in cricket accident

[St Georges Girl]

BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | South West Wales | Umpire dies in cricket accident


A cricket umpire has died after being hit on the head by the ball during a match.

Alcwyn Jenkins, 72, was umpiring a league match between Swansea and Llangennech at the St Helen's ground in Swansea on Saturday.

Mr Jenkins, a widower from Skewen near Neath, was taken to hospital by air ambulance but failed to recover.

Neil Hobbs, honorary chairman of the South Wales Cricket Association, said it was a tragic accident.

"I've umpired with Alcwyn - great guy. He was well respected throughout the league and everybody knew Alcwyn," said Mr Hobbs.

I'm led to believe it was one of the most freak accidents you could ever imagine on the cricket field
Neil Hobbs, South Wales Cricket Association

"He's umpired for the best part of 25 years. He also does junior league matches.

"Everybody probably in south Wales knows Alcwyn through cricket. It's a very very sad day and I feel sorry for his children."

The match, which was was abandoned, was a league game in division one of the South Wales Cricket Association.

A message on the association's website says: "We are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic accidental death of umpire Alcwyn Jenkins from an injury sustained on the field of play at St Helen's today. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time."

Mr Hobbs, who was not at the game, said he was told that Mr Jenkins collapsed after being hit by the ball.

"I'm led to believe it was one of the most freak accidents you could ever imagine on the cricket field," he said.

"The fielder collected the ball in the outfield and threw it in at the stumps and it hit Alcwyn on the head."

He said efforts were made to resuscitate Mr Jenkins before he was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

Steve Davies, chairman of Swansea Cricket Club, said the incident happened at around 1600 BST in front of an unusually large crowd, because many had been watching the Lions rugby match beforehand.

"Alcwyn was a well-known and respected umpire who regularly stood for the South Wales Cricket Association," he said.

Mr Davies said that before the game, Mr Jenkins had turned to him and said: "I just love playing games at St Helen's. It's a wonderful place to play cricket."

Mr Jenkins had recently returned from a tour of the West Indies with the association.

A spokesperson for Morriston Hospital in Swansea said the injuries were consistent with being hit on the head with a cricket ball.

South Wales Police said a 72-year-old man had died following a cricket game in Swansea and there were no suspicious circumstances.

[millo]

Sad news

[carolinephillips]

How sad.
My grandad died after being struck in the chest by a cricket ball whist umpiring a school match in the 1960's. He was only 64, but it ruptured something internally and he slowly bled to death. Cricket is more dangerous than people think.