FATAL BURNS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 303, 4 October 1938, Page 6

FATAL BURNS.

WHILE DESTROYING GORSE. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. Falling into burning gorse at Rakaia a week ago, Mr James Dolan, a labourer, aged 63, suffered severe burns, and died in the Ashburton Public Hospital last evening. An inquest • into the circumstances of his death was held at the Hospital this morning by the District Coroner (Mr E. C. Bathurst). The proceedings for the police were in the hands of Constable Coatsworth, of Rakaia. John Jamieson Duncan, farmer, of Rakaia, stated that deceased was his brother-in-law, and had lived at witness’s place for 10 years. On Tuesday of last week Dolan went to burn off gorse on a boundary fence, which witness some time later saw was on fire. He ran to the" place and found Dolan between the hedge and some burning gorse. Witness carried him to a place of safety. Dolan was unconscious. After a doctor had made an examination, Dolan was removed to the Ashburton Public Hospital. Witness saw that Dolan was fairly severely burned about both arms and about the face and head. Dolan had a mania for lighting fires about the farm and burning rubbish. In January, 1919, Dolan was severely injured in the head in an accident and that had had an effect on him ever since. Dolan told witness in the hospital that he saw the fence on fire, moved down.to check it, and did not remember any more. Dr. T). R. Ryder, house surgeon at the Ashburton Hospital, said that Dolan was admitted to hospital suffering in a severe degree from shock as a result of second-degree burns. He was also suffering from chronic heart disease. Death was due to shock and toxaemia following 'burns accentuated by the condition of the heart. The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the Tgedical evidence.