23 May 2012

Manslaughter charge laid over NZ boxer's death

8:38 pm on 23 May 2012

A doctor in French Polynesia has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a New Zealand-based boxer nearly three weeks ago.

Lightweight Willman Rodriguez Gomez collapsed 32 seconds into his first professional fight and died an hour later in hospital.

Local television reports the doctor in charge of medical care at the Tahiti boxing event has also been accused of failing to assist a person at risk.

The report says the doctor had no first aid kit available after the 30-year-old was knocked out by Karihi Tehei, who was also making his first professional fight.

The post mortem was inconclusive, but New Zealand media reported he was believed to have died of a ruptured artery.