Sports / Umpire gets hit by ball on head, dies a month after being in coma

Pembrokeshire County Cricket Club umpire John Williams died after being hit on the head by a cricket ball last month.

The Wales-based cricket club tweeted the news about Williams, a local cricketer, administrator and an official, on Thursday. Williams, 80, was struck on the head while umpiring a Division Two amateur match between Pembroke and Narberth at at Treleet on July 13.

After receiving treatment on the field, he was transferred to the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff, reported the westerntelegraph.com.uk.

Williams was left in a coma after being hit and died with his family at his bedside. “Sad news this morning regarding umpire John Williams. John passed away this morning with his family at his bedside. Thoughts of all of Pembrokeshire Cricket are with Hilary and the boys at this difficult and sad time,” tweeted the club.

Fellow umpire Merfyn John said it was only because of a “last minute swap” that Mr Williams was umpiring the match. It’s just one of those things – the ball comes so quickly. You just move out of the way but these boys are so tall and powerful when they hit the ball, it’s just so fast. No words can describe the incident – it really hit me when I heard about it. John is a good umpire, he is fair and he is easy to get on with,” as quoted by the itv.com.