Sands reported in coma as hunger strike goes on

May 4, 1981

The so-called H-block Information Center, which relays news from and about four Irish guerrillas on hunger strike in Maze Prison, said Sunday that Bobby Sands went into a comma on the 64th day of his hunger strike.

Sands' supporters said they obtained the information from a brother of one of the other hunger strikers who visited the jail and spoke to Sands' sister Marcella.

A British government spokesman said o nly, "The condition of Sands and the three other hunger strikers continues to deteriorate."