How to use "in the first instance" in English?

I think it's like:

Dave was a clumsy guy, tall in stature but with no fat on his body at all. He had a bald head and smelt of milk chews. He used to drop pizzas all the time. In the first instance, it was because someone left a banana skin on the ice rink, causing him to topple over and hurt his knee. The second time was at a funeral...

Ect. Donno if this is right by the way. Dave's a good guy though...