GDHC Red Rag - May 2012 - Glebe District Hockey Club
GDHC Red Rag - May 2012 - Glebe District Hockey Club
GDHC Red Rag - May 2012 - Glebe District Hockey Club
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>May</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>Red</strong> <strong>Rag</strong><br />
Lizzie Watkins Accident cont.<br />
Dwyer said he was devastated and the Australian Kookaburras' thoughts were with the family. "Such a sad<br />
day in the hockey world," he said.<br />
<strong>Hockey</strong>roos player Anna Flanagan said: "You are in our thoughts and prayers. Our heart goes out to your family<br />
at this terrible time."<br />
Comment by HJW<br />
The <strong>Glebe</strong> <strong>District</strong> <strong>Hockey</strong> <strong>Club</strong> extends to Lizzie's family and friends our heartfelt condolences.<br />
In all my years in hockey this girl's death is the first time I have become aware that anyone has died as a direct<br />
result of a hockey injury. Moderately severe injuries can occur but are uncommon eg fractured limb or facial<br />
bones, dislodged teeth, traumatic cataracts of the eye, loss of sight in the eye, fractured skulls, and liver,<br />
spleen, and kidney lacerations. I have heard of deaths occurring on the cricket field and on the golf course as<br />
a result of being struck by a ball. Bad luck happens I suppose, in any sport.<br />
From all accounts Lizzie was an energetic, loveable lady. Her life was 24 years well spent and I am confident<br />
she is now enjoying her Eternal Reward in Heaven.<br />
Why did she die?<br />
My guess is that she was struck by the ball in the temple region between the eye and the ear. Behind the skull<br />
in this area is the temporal artery, which is encased in bone. The flying ball hit the skull overlying the artery.<br />
The artery was ruptured and bleeds inside the skull. The resulting haematoma inside the skull pushes the<br />
brain down through the hole/opening at the base of the skull called the Foramen Magnum. The Foramen<br />
Magnum is where the brain becomes the spinal cord. The mid brain controls blood pressure levels, the breathing<br />
centre and the cardiovascular centre. As her brain was pushed through the Foramen Magnum the mid<br />
brain was compressed and functioned abnormally. Blood pressure, breathing and heart rate/contractility control<br />
then became disturbed leading to death. In this type of injury there is often little blood to seen on the<br />
skin. The bleeding is inside the skull.<br />
The Western Australian Coroner will be conducting an investigation into what caused Lizzie's death and we<br />
await this Report with interest.<br />
Whatever caused her death, it is a tragedy of the worst order.<br />
© <strong>GDHC</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
Page 10