SWANSEA, Wales -- A cricket umpire has died after being struck on the head by a ball.
Alcwyn Jenkins collapsed after the blow, which came from a ball thrown by a fielder during a Welsh cricket league match in Swansea on Saturday. He was 72.
"I'm led to believe it was one of the most freak accidents you could ever imagine on the cricket field," said Neil Hobbs, honorary chairman of the South Wales Cricket Association, according to the BBC News' Web site.
The game between Swansea and Llangennech in the South Wales Association's Division One was halted.
"I've umpired with Alcwyn -- great guy," Hobbs said. "He was well-respected throughout the league and everybody knew Alcwyn."
Jenkins, a 25-year veteran umpire according to Hobbs, was airlifted to a hospital but failed to recover, the BBC report said.
"Everybody probably in south Wales knows Alcwyn through cricket," Hobbs said. "It's a very very sad day and I feel sorry for his children."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.