Not quite the same thing but wasn't there a top Australian wrestler who went blind after picking up an infection from dirt on the mat?

Every Monday morning in Morecambe the blue and red posters went up at the Winter Gardens. Very often with Jack Pye topping the bill against a collection of what I presumed were villains such as Bearded Ken Davies. Once there was a bill The Pye Family v The Rest of the World. Jack, Harry, Dominic and Tommy. I was hooked. I only ever saw Jack once v Sandy Orford and to my horror it was he who was the villain.