COLLAPSE OF WORKER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 71, Issue 36, 22 November 1950, Page 6

COLLAPSE OF WORKER

SUDDEN DEATH AT *£ HIGHBANK • VERDICT OF HEART-FAIUJRE i-wj inquiries into the circumstances "surrounding the death of a margined man, at Highbank power station about 1.30 p.m. yesterday, -''were conducted by the District Mr E. C. Bathurst, at Methven this morning. A verdict was returned that death was due to heart failure.

Deceased was Geoffrey Yorke Hamber,i aged 48 years, a labourer employed by the State Hydro-Electric Department. He lived at Highbank, was married, and had three children. Evidence was given this morning by Harold Phethean, senior station operator for the Department at Highbank. After evidence of identification, witness said that, about 1.30 p.m. yesterday, he was in the workshop at the station, and was bending some angleiron held in a vyce. He was using an acetone torch to heat the metal and Hamber was standing alongside waiting for completion of the job. ' “I noticed Hamber move backwards,’'’ continued witness, “and saw him falling. His head struck the concrete floor with some force. Deceased made no movement, and his breathing stopped after about five minutes. A doctor was called immediately. Three weelts . ago Hamber complained of ‘black-outs’ and' I was present on the occasion of cjne of these. There was no power on at the time yesterday, and neither I nor Hamber was in contact with any live tools or wires. The floor was dry.” Dr. R. T. Wade, who was called to the scene, stated that he found that death had already occurred before his arrival. He conducted a post-mortem examination, and found that death was due to coronary occlusion (heart failure). The fact that deceased’s head struck the floor had nothing to do with; his death.

Constable G, Dunlop gave formal evidence and the Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.