THE brother of a promising boxer who died hours after the biggest victory of his career has called for mobile brain scanners at the ringside for pro fights, and for venues to be closer to neurosurgical units.

Light heavyweight Scott Westgarth (31), who grew up in Prudhoe, died after his 10-round victory over Dec Spelman at the Doncaster Dome leisure centre in Februar, 2018, a three-day inquest heard last week.

Last Thursday, Doncaster Coroner Nicola Mundy recorded a conclusion of misadventure. Ms Mundy said that one of her key concerns at the beginning of the hearing was whether the correct decision was taken to take the boxer to the nearest hospital ­– the Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI), which does not have neurosurgical unit.

But the coroner concluded that it was an appropriate decision because casualties were only transferred directly into a neurosurgical units in very exceptional circumstances and, given his injuries, the 40-minute direct journey to the unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield would probably have meant he would have died anyway.

Speaking after the coroner’s conclusion, Mr Westgarth’s brother, Adam, said he accepted the coroner’s ruling, but said the Doncaster Dome had been too far from a neurosurgical unit.

He also called for mobile brain scanners to be located ringside with staff trained to use them to detect problems earlier. Speaking outside Doncaster Coroner’s Court, he said: “The Doncaster Dome is a little bit too far from a neurosurgical unit I think, which had a part to play in this.”

Mr Westgarth said he believed the scanners cost around £14,000 each, but could raise concerns about unseen problems within three minutes.

“We can’t do anything about Scott but I think, ultimately, as part of his legacy, something needs to change and governing bodies need to be serious about brain scanners just to give boxers a better chance of survival if the worst was to happen.”