Bill Noard is cared for by emergency responders Saturday. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Bill Noard is cared for by emergency responders Saturday. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Official hospitalized after accidental tackle at Port Townsend-Sequim game

Bill Noard of Port Angeles was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center after he was accidentally tackled by players on Memorial Field in Port Townsend, an official said.

SEATTLE — An umpire injured Friday during a football game between the Sequim High School Wolves and the Port Townsend Redhawks was listed in satisfactory condition at a Seattle hospital on Saturday.

Bill Noard of Port Angeles was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center after he was accidentally tackled by players on Memorial Field in Port Townsend, Mike Wilson, coordinator of the North Olympic Football Officials Association, said Saturday afternoon. He said Noard was 69 or 70 years old.

Wilson was a referee at the game.

Noard’s nurse said he “is doing well,” said hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg-Hanson.

As umpire, Noard “was behind the defensive line about 5 to 7 yards back, and the ball carrier was … coming his way and was tackled right there. He got smashed and hit down and fell and hit his head,” Wilson said.

“It was a hard hit.”

The grass and turf at Memorial Field “is very good, but he got flattened. He was right there when the tackle was made and was trying to get out of the way and back out of the way, but there was nothing he could do,” Wilson said, adding that the incident appeared to be an accident.

The injury caused “bleeding in the brain,” Wilson said.

“They have controlled the bleeding, but right now, he still has loss of feeling in his left side,” Wilson said.

“When the blood goes away and he starts rehabbing, hopefully he will be sent to a rehab in the Port Angeles/Sequim area later next week.”

Wilson credited an ambulance crew with East Jefferson Fire-Rescue for quickly responding to the injury.

“They were right there,” he said.

“I stopped the clock and got right to him and they were almost at the same time. They took really good care of him and got him up to” Jefferson Healthcare hospital, from which he was transported to Harborview.

The thoughts and prayers of Noard’s fellow umpires are with him, Wilson said.

“It is really tough to start the first game of the season and go ahead and lose someone like that,” Wilson said.

Noard recently moved to Port Angeles from California to live with family members, Wilson said.

________

Features Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at cmcdaniel@ peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Jill Zarzeczny of Port Angeles, left, and her children, Althea Zarzeczny, 4, and Lupine Zarzeczny, 9, look for marine life beneath the sand during Tuesday's low tide at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles. The minus 2.99 tide qualified as one of the lowest of the year with tides of minus 2.53 at La Push, minus 2.70 at Makah Bay, minus 2.55 at Seiku, minus 2.74 at Crescent Bay, minus 3.08 at Dungeness, minus 3.42 at Port Townsend and minus 3.82 at Dabob Bay. Similar low tides are forecast for the rest of the week across the North Olympic Peninsula.
Lowest tides on Peninsula

Jill Zarzeczny of Port Angeles, left, and her children, Althea Zarzeczny, 4,… Continue reading

In a PT Artscape project, Blue Heron Middle School teacher Charlie Fornia, left, and artist Jesse Watson finish painting a “Welcome to PTHS” mural on the woodshop building at Port Townsend High School. PT Artscape hired Watson to design the mural and hosted a morning of painting with elementary, middle school and high school students from around Port Townsend. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/for Peninsula Daily News)
Welcome mural at Port Townsend High School

In a PT Artscape project, Blue Heron Middle School teacher Charlie Fornia,… Continue reading

Sill
Clallam restarts search for county administrator

HR director has filled spot for four years

Road work to close part of Race Street today

The northbound lane of Race Street will be closed… Continue reading

The North Olympic Library System is hosting a series of open houses to showcase its new bookmobile.
Bookmobile open houses scheduled

The North Olympic Library System is hosting a series… Continue reading

Racers in the Race to Alaska pass by the cheers and well wishes from the hundreds of spectators lining the docks at the Northwest Maritime Center when the cannon went off at 5 a.m. Monday, starting the 750-mile journey from Port Townsend to Ketchikan, Alaska. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
And they’re off to the Proving Ground

Race to Alaska boats to leave Victoria on Thursday

With emotions running high, the skipper of the boat, Jordan Hanssen, and crewman Greg Spooner share a hug as the boat is pulled up the ramp under the eyes of spectators lining the dock at the Port Townsend Boat Haven on Monday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Rowboat that set record recycled

Ceremonial ‘wake’ held for 30-foot vessel

Burn ban in effect in Jefferson County

Clallam County to prohibit fires by July 1

Most Read