The Star: December 13, 2018

4 Thursday December 13 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
The Star
News
Referee breaks silence on charity
It was the
worst moment
you could
ever imagine
THE REFEREE of the fatal
Christchurch charity fight night
has broken his silence, saying
victim Kain Parsons held his
own in the ring until the fateful
blow which cost his life.
Mr Parsons, 37, died four days
after being critically injured
in the ring during the Fight
for Christchurch event on
November 3.
The project manager was
fighting former Canterbury and
Tasman Makos rugby halfback
Steve Alfeld in the fight night,
which was raising money for a
variety of Christchurch charities.
In an exclusive interview with
the Herald on Sunday, Kevin
Pyne, one of New Zealand’s top
professional boxing referees, has
spoken of the moments leading
up to the final knockout blow,
and how seeing Parsons carried
out of the ring on a stretcher
was the worst moment of his
officiating career.
“We were all deeply gutted by
this incident,” Pyne said.
“It’s not like we just walked
away and brushed it off, and
thought ‘oh, it’s another day at
the office’. It was nothing like
that, it was your worst moment
you could ever imagine in the
ring.
“I’ve never had an opponent
TRAGIC:
Kain Parsons
has left
behind
a wife
and three
children.
carried out on a stretcher in my
career, and we’ve had over 5000
registered corporate fighters
through the New Zealand
Professional Boxing Association.
This is the first time we’ve had
any incident of this nature.
“He’s got three little kiddies
and a wife. We think we’re doing
it hard, but imagine how they
feel.”
But Pyne refuses to attribute
blame.
“We had done everything to
the letter of the law of boxing,
but we were all suffering over
that incident for sure,” Pyne told
the Herald on Sunday.
“The matching was fair, I think
Kain Parsons had an extensive
time in the gym, like 18 months,
and that was mis-reported at one
stage.
“That’s a great period of time
to have a corporate fight. The
actual opponent hadn’t had
anywhere near that.”
The progression of the fight
also offered no warning signs, he
said.
Pyne did issue two
standing eight counts in the
opening round against Mr
Parsons – including one from
a punch which knocked him
off balance. The other was to
check after a willing exchange;
but he said in both cases Mr
Parsons did not appear hurt or
struggling.
The Arvida Attitude
of Living Well is
transforming the ageing
experience in the
Christchurch region.
Welcome to Arvida, where we’re working every day to improve
the lifestyle and wellbeing of thousands of New Zealanders.
At Arvida, we’re creating communities that enable you to enjoy
your retirement in a way you never thought possible – to feel
younger for longer and actively engaged in life. Before you make
a decision about retirement care for yourself or a loved one, why
not visit one of our 11 villages in the Christchurch region.
At Mayfair and Wendover, we have rest home rooms
and hospital care beds available right now. Ask about
our Free One Day Respite Care Offer, so you can
experience our friendly personalised care first hand.
104 Wharenui Road
Upper Riccarton, Christchurch.
Phone: 0800 880 009
or 03 348 2445
33 Erica Street
Papanui, Christchurch.
Phone: 0800 278 432
or 03 352 6089
The attitude of living well. www.arvida.co.nz 0800 278 432