Tributes paid after talented hockey player Tom Wilson, 22, killed in freak training ground accident

Sorely missed: Hockey player Tom Wilson
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Robin de Peyer11 December 2015

Tributes have been paid to a talented young hockey player who died after a freak training accident.

Organ donor Tom Wilson, 22, died in hospital after being hit in the head with a stick during a practice match at Old Loughtonians hockey club in Essex.

Doctors tried desperately to save him on the pitch before he was flown to the Royal London Hospital from Loughton on Tuesday evening.

But the trainee surveyor died on Wednesday after spending the night fighting for his life in hospital.

His father Graham, 63, a former journalist who is the chairman of the Hockey Writers' Association, told the Daily Mirror: "He was a perfect son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and had a wonderful sense of humour.

"And so charming, we couldn't have wished for any better.

"It was a freak accident. We've heard of bad injuries in hockey. We've heard of concussion and things but rarely of fatalities."

Announcing the devastating news in a statement on Facebook, Old Loughtonians said it would hold a memorial service for him on Saturday.

“Tom was not only a key member of the Mens 1st XI team, but had come up through the club junior sides and was a very popular young man who was a much admired role model for our younger players,” the club said.

“One of Tom's many fantastic attributes was he was an extremely conscientious person and had agreed to be an organ donor so will continue to help people.”

England Hockey also paid tribute to Mr Wilson, who graduated in business and sport management from Nottingham Trent University, after the “almost unprecedented” accident.

It said in a statement: “We have been deeply saddened to learn that Tom Wilson, a member of Old Loughtonians Hockey Club, passed away on Wednesday after a tragic training accident.

“Incidents such as this one are almost unprecedented in hockey – our thoughts, and those of the club and wider hockey community are with Tom’s family and friends.”

Mr Wilson had previously been a games captain at The Coopers' Company and Coborn School in Upminster, east London.

The school said in a statement: "Tom died playing hockey, the sport that he loved; he was hit on the head in a training match and despite the very best care, lost his life yesterday afternoon.

"Tom's lasting legacy will be that by donating his organs he has helped save the lives of many others."

As well as planning a memorial service, his club cancelled all of their matches this weekend as a mark of respect.

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