Top hockey player Lizzie Watkins dies after being hit

[Andrew]

ONE of WA's top young hockey players has died after accidentally being hit in the head during a State League match at Curtin University. The WA hockey community is in shock today following the tragic death of 24-year-old Lizzie Watkins in a freak accident during the match late yesterday.

Her nickname was "Sharpy" because she was always forgetting things, but elite hockey player Elizabeth Watkins will always be remembered for her "free spirit'' and her smiling face.

The 24-year-old was playing alongside her sister at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University on Sunday in a State League game between the North Coast Raiders and the Victoria Park Panthers.

She collapsed unconscious when a ball deflected off a stick and hit her on the head.

Attempts were made to revive her before an ambulance arrived.



She was breathing when she was rushed to hospital, but died on the way.

Hockey WA has launched an investigation into the tragedy.

Raiders club president Craig Vallipuram has known the Watkins family for more than 20 years and was once Ms Watkins' coach.

He said he watched her play hockey as a child with her brother and sister.

``The hockey club is like a large family,'' he told AAP.

``We're all in shock. There have been a lot of tears. This has upset everybody.''

Mr Vallipuram said Ms Watkins was a talented junior player and had a number of club awards.

``She was well loved and well respected by everyone, and a dedicated and loyal member of our club,'' he said.

``She always had a smile on her face. She was a free spirit, very relaxed.''

Mr Vallipuram said the club had been inundated with kind words from the wider community about Ms Watkins.

``It makes you realise how much they do care about other people. It restores your faith in humans,'' he said.

Hockey Australia chief executive Mark Anderson said it was a very sad day for the sport and offered sympathy to the Watkins family and the hockey club.

``Hockey is a sport that is known for its strong sense of community,'' he said.

``I know that members of our two national teams and players involved at all levels of our sport are saddened by this tragic event.

``The Kookaburras wore black arm bands in the final of the London VISA International Invitational Hockey Tournament overnight at Olympic Park out of respect for Lizzie and her family.

``I know that our community, both nationally and particularly in Western Australia, will pull together to provide as much support as possible to all involved.''

The Raiders' Facebook page posted a tribute to Ms Watkins, labelling her a ``true stalwart'' of the club.

``Lizzie Watkins was playing the game she loved and wore the Raiders colours with pride. She will be greatly missed. RIP Lizzie,'' the club posted.

On Twitter, Kookaburras hockey player Glenn Turner wrote: ``Thoughts and prayers go out to the Watkins family. RIP Lizzie.''

Fellow hockey player Jamie Dwyer tweeted: ``All the Kookaburras thoughts are with the Watkins family after the devastating news today. Such a sad day in the hockey world.''

Ms Watkins is a student at Murdoch University and went to St Mary's Anglican Girls School in Karrinyup.

In 2010 she opened Meg and Wally, a West Leederville fashion boutique with her sister.

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[Troy]

Saw this on the news yesterday, tragic accident and something that I never thought could happen in hockey. My mum played it for years and she never saw anything like this happen, she had seen serious injuries but even she didn't think that this could happen. So sad for her and it would have been horrible for all those there at the game to witness something like this.