Inquest after umpire's ball death

An inquest is due to open later this week into the death of a cricket umpire who died after being hit on the head by a ball during a match in Swansea.

Alcwyn Jenkins, 72, was umpiring a game between Swansea and Llangennech at the St Helen's ground on Saturday.

The widower, from Skewen near Neath, was struck on the head by a ball thrown by a fielder and was airlifted to hospital but failed to recover.

Many people in the local cricketing fraternity have paid tribute to him.

The South Wales Cricket Association said it was a tragic accident.

Mr Jenkins, who had been an umpire for around 25 years, was described as highly respected, a real character and a true enthusiast of the sport.

The match, which was abandoned, was a league game in division one of the South Wales Cricket Association.

A message on the association's website says: "We are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic accidental death of umpire Alcwyn Jenkins from an injury sustained on the field of play at St Helen's today. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time."

South Wales Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

The office of Swansea coroner Philip Rogers said he had been informed of the death and an inquest would be opened, possibly later in the week.

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