Meyer, 50, dies on the pitch

HE DIED on the field he had lived to play on.

Former schoolboy international and passionate cricketer, Denis Meyer, died on Saturday after a heart attack as he was coaching a group of youngsters at the Ceylon Sports Club in Balestier Road.

He was 50.

Medics arrived 10 minutes after his collapse and rushed him to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His death comes as a shock to many as he had no history of heart problems. He had, in fact, just finished batting in a friendly game minutes before his collapse.

'My father was probably the fittest of those his age. Others are slowing down in life but he still played cricket regularly,' said his son, Glenn.

'He loved the game.'

Meyer played for the Australian and New Zealand Association in the cricket league for the past few years. He was one of the oldest active players around.

A Singapore Under-23 player in the 1970s, he started coaching in 1996, when he introduced the sport to his sons.

Cricket is a family affair for the Meyers, with 21-year-old Glenn now a national cricketer, and his 17-year-old brother, Shane, in the U-19 team.

Even Meyer's wife, Lorraine - a former school netballer - took up the sport under her husband's influence. She was his teammate in his last game on Saturday.

Said the Singapore Cricket Association's secretary, M.Neethiananthan: 'Denis and his family devoted much of their precious time to the game.

'He was a very dedicated player and coach.

'His sudden and untimely demise is a great loss to the sport, in particular the youth development.'

For Glenn, however, his father's manner of death lends some consolation.

'I could not have asked for a better ending for him.

'He was wearing his cricket outfit, and passed away on the field.

'He would have been happy.'

The wake will be held at 495C Tampines Street 43, #08-386. The cortege leaves tomorrow at 2.30pm for a funeral service at Church of the Holy Trinity.

HOE PEI SHAN