INQUEST HELD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 37, 23 November 1939, Page 3

INQUEST HELD

DEATH OF PUMP ATTENDANT.

accident at irrigation WORKS. , That death was due to asphyxia caused by immersion jn water, deceased apparently having accidently slipped in to the sump at the North Hinds River irrigation excavation while going on duty at midnight on November 12-13; there being no evidence to show how ho fell into the water. This was the verdict given by the District Coroner (Mr E. C. Bathurst) at the conclusion of the inquest hold yesterday afternoon into the death of Henry John Keenan, aged 36, of Timaru, who was found dead at the bottom of an excavation sump at the Public Works diversion race near Surrey Hills last Monday week.

Constable J. A. Paddy (Methven) conducted the police inquiry, Mr W. D. Campbell (Timaru) represented the Public Works Department and Mr J.. G. Leckie (Timaru) appeared for the New Zealand Workers’ Union and Keenan’s relatives. Arthur Charles Henderson, a carpenter, employed by the Public Works Department at Eangitata, stated that about 11.15 p.m. on November 12 he passed deceased on the road, and be appeared to be in good health and in cheery spirits. Deceased was on his 1 way to work, and they exchanged greetings. Frederick Brown, a labourer employed by the Public Works Department gave evidence that he was one of the first' six to arrive at the sump on the following morning. The first thing he noticed when he arrived was the lights of the machine were on. In his opinion deceased was raising the handle of the mump which became detached from, the pump and caused him to fall backwards.

Medical evidence was given by Dr. J. Russell Wells who said that" death was due to asphyxia caused through immersion in water, hut there was no post mortem evidence to indicate how deceased fell in. There was no evidence of alcohol having been consumed. Walter BigueilJ, an overseer, employed by the Public Works Department at the llangitata diversion race gave evidence that at 8.15 a.m. on November 13. he made an insneetioii of the pumping plant. If the deceased had been carrying out his work during the night the stimp, which was 16 feet .'deep, would have been empty. The sump was full to the top. with water. He ordered the sump to be emptied and the body of deceased was found at the bottom. The plant was* standing on a, wooden decking over one edge of the excavation and there were three feet on either side of the plant for the attendant to walk on while attending the plant. In reply-to Mr Leckie witness said that there were no rails around the sump at the time of the accident, hut since then protections had been put up. He said he considered that it had not previously occurred to him that there was any need for a. protecting rail. There was a hole in the decking over which it may have been possible for the deceased to have tripped. To Mr Paddy witness said that Keenan may not have fallen off the decking into the sump. He may have fallen off the track on the north side of the excavation.

Constable Paddy gayo evidence of finding of the body aftc-r thd excavation bad been drained. Ho said that Keenan fell into the water after slipping on the decking which that night would have been in a slippery condition on account of a heavy frost.