Wellington, New Zealand: An amateur boxer has died after collapsing during a charity bout on Saturday, according to police, who have not yet released the cause of death.

Witnesses said 49-year-old Neville Knight slumped onto the ropes then fell to the canvas midway through his bout at the corporate fund-raising event at Te Rapa, near Hamilton. Paramedics tried to resuscitate Knight but he could not be revived and died at the scene, police said.

Acting inspector Andrew Mortimore said “medical staff tried for in excess of 30 minutes to resuscitate the man but were unsuccessful. Police are speaking to witnesses and family, and will be referring the death to the coroner.”