Wellington, June 24 -- Former New Zealand fast bowler Bob Blair, whose courage in the aftermath of one of the country's worst rail disasters became one of cricket's most enduring stories, has died on his 94th birthday.

Blair represented New Zealand in 19 Tests between 1953 and 1964, claiming 43 wickets at an average of 35.23, according to ESPNcricinfo.

While his achievements with the ball earned him a respected place in New Zealand cricket history, it was his remarkable display of resilience during the Johannesburg Test against South Africa in December 1953 that defined his legacy.

The tragic circumstances unfolded during the Tangiwai rail disaster on Christmas Eve in 1953, when a railway bridge collapsed beneath the Wellington-to-Auck...