KUCHING, Nov 6: A 14-year-old Sarawakian hockey player who was participating in a goalkeeper skills workshop at the Raja Ashman Shah Hockey Academy in Ipoh passed away this morning at the Perak National Sports Council (MSN) hostel.
According to a Bernama report carried by various news portals, MSN director-general Ahmad Shapawi Ismail stated that National Hockey Development Programme (NHDP) trainee, Bill Wolfson Lianie, had complained of discomfort and giddiness, collapsed in his room around 7am.
The NHDP management called for an ambulance and tried to resuscitate him before he was taken to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB).
“After several attempts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead. Until now, the cause of death cannot be ascertained,” Ahmad Shapawi was quoted as saying when met at the hospital today.
Wolfson was one of the goalkeepers from the NHDP district training centre at SMK Penrissen in Kuching who was selected to attend the NHDP clinic from yesterday to today, according to Ahmad Shapawi.
The deceased, who was accompanied by Sarawak State youth head coach Wilina Mac Carina Wilson, arrived in Ipoh last Thursday (Nov 3) for the goalkeeper clinic in conjunction with the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
Ahmad Shapawi disclosed that the NHDP management has contacted the trainee’s family and is liaising with the hospital, while the trainee’s aunt is on her way there to help make arrangements for his remains to be flown to Kuching.
Bernama also reported that Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu had directed MSN, the Malaysian Hockey Federation, and the NHDP to help with funeral arrangements.
“Wolfson is believed to have died from a seizure after taking his bath in his room in Ipoh,” Faizal emphasised in a statement issued later today, while conveying his deepest condolences to the deceased trainee’s family. — DayakDaily
