FALL DOWN LIFT SHAFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 212, 7 September 1922, Page 5

FALL DOWN LIFT SHAFT.

IN WILLIAMSON CHAMBERS. OLD MAN'S DEATH. A distressing accident occurred yesterday afternoon when an old man, Mr. A. Laurie, fell down the lift well in Williamson's Chambers, Shortland Street, and received injuries from whitfi he expired shortly afterwards. There were apparently no eye-witnesses of the accident, but the deceased was found at about 2.45 p.m. lying unconscious at the bottom of the lift shaft. Dr. E. W. Sharman, whose surgery iB situated in the same building, was called, but the condition of the injured man wae hopeless, his skuli having been badly fractured at tbe base. He lived only a few minutes after the arrival of the doctor. Mr. Laurie was married and formerly resided at King9land, but during the past week had been residing at Marewa Road, Green Lane. A married daughter resides at Avondale. The deceased left home about lunch-time yesterday and called in at the Hospital Board's office before going to Williamson's Chambers. It is conjectured that he opened the door of the automatic lift on the ground floor under the impression that the cage was on that flooi level, and so absent-mindedly steppea to his death, falling 14ft or 15ft on the :oncrete floor below. The inquest was opened at 4.30 this afternoon Lefore the coroner, Mr. J. E. Wilson, P.M., for the purpose of formal identification.