Umpire dies at cricket match

Mr Sinclair collapsed as he was about to umpire a match

A cricket umpire has collapsed and died shortly before he was due to officiate in a league match.

Fred Sinclair, 52, was about to take to the field in a South Wales Cricket League game between Cefn Forest and Brecon on Saturday when he collapsed.

Players and officials from both teams fought to save Mr Sinclair in the pavilion at Cefn Forest, Blackwood, before an ambulance arrived.

The game was cancelled as a mark of respect and a minute's silence will be held at all the league's matches next week.

Tony Hallett, chairman of the South Wales Cricket League said: "It happened in the pavilion minutes before everyone was due to go onto the field at Cefn Forest.

"The people from Cefn Forest and Brecon worked hard to keep him going - they made magnificent efforts, but to no avail."

'Well-respected'

Mr Hallett added that Mr Sinclair, from Mountain Ash, was one of the league's leading umpires.

"I counted him as a friend and he was a good, well-respected umpire," Mr Hallett said.

"He always officiated with a smile on his face.

"He had been an umpire with the league for six years, but I believe he had been umpiring for at least 10 years before that.

"He was well-known among most of the clubs and next Saturday, all the teams will hold a minute's silence as a mark of respect.

"The cricket fraternity in South Wales has been shocked by his death and our sympathies go out to his family.

A Gwent Police spokesman said: "I can confirm a 52-year-old man collapsed and later died at a cricket match.

"It is being treated as a sudden death."