Keith Pontin died of dementia caused by head trauma, inquest finds

The former Wales defender Keith Pontin died from dementia caused by repeated trauma to the headduringhis long playing career, an inquest has found.

Pontin played for Cardiff between 1976 and 1983 and made more than 200 league appearances as well as being capped twice by Wales.

He was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2015 aged 59, and died at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital on 2 August 2020 aged 64.

His family, including his wife Janet – who has campaigned for a better understanding of dementia among players – and his two grown-up daughters, have always believed his condition was linked to years of sustaining multiple concussions during matches.

Pontypridd coroner’s court heard on Tuesday that a post-mortem examination carried out on Pontin by the pathologist Dr Esther Youd found the cause of death to be chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

William Stewart, consultant neuropathologist at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, who examined Pontin’s brain tissue, said: “The overwhelming pathology was of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.”

CTE is a progressive brain condition believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head and episodes of concussion. The symptoms of CTE affect the functioning of the brain and eventually lead to dementia.

During the hearing, a list of the injuries Pontin suffered throughout his career, compiled by his wife, was read to the court – beginning with a concussion during a match against Wrexham when he was playing for Cardiff aged 18.

Another incident saw him collide with Sam Allardyce during a game, causing him to need stitches to an eye. Other incidents noted injuries including cuts to his face, blows to his head, a broken nose and a back injury.

The assistant coroner David Regan