Philip Tomlinson

An umpire has died after being struck on the head by a ball in a freak accident during a local cricket match. Alcwyn Jenkins was officiating a game at the St Helen’s ground in Swansea yesterday afternoon 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. Witnesses said a batsmen hit the ball to a boundary where a fielder threw it back to the wicket. But Mr Jenkins failed to see it coming at speed and it hit him on the side of the head. - Philip Tomlinson via Bookmarklet