Cricket umpire dies after being struck on head by ball during match

Published on 05/07/2009 22:12

A CRICKET umpire has died after being struck on the head by a ball.

Alcwyn Jenkins was officiating at the St Helen's ground in Swansea on Saturday when he collapsed after the blow.

The 72-year-old from the Sketty area of the city was airlifted to hospital but died shortly afterwards.

The game between Swansea and Llangennech in Division One of the Antur Insurance South Wales Association was later abandoned.

Fellow umpire Eddie Blake said that Mr Jenkins had been "devoted" to the sport. The 59-year-old, from Swansea, said: "He was one of the oldest umpires and he was a smashing guy; a real character."

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust said they were called to the cricket ground at 4.35pm and a rapid response vehicle arrived there a minute later.

She said a helicopter flew Mr Jenkins to Swansea's Morriston hospital a short time later.