BURNED ALIVE IN HEDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 19

BURNED ALIVE IN HEDGE.

, TERRIBLE ORDEAL OP A HUSBAND. 1 The desperate efforts he made to rescue his wife when she was trapped in a burning hedge were described at an Inquest at Longcross, by Thomas Holden, a chauffeur, who appeared with bandaged hands ' and a burned face. I Holden Eaid that he was burning the [ long grass in a paddock, when, driven by the wind towards the hedge, the flames got , the upper hand. He ran for a gardener, and they managed to check the flames in one direction. He was unaware that his wife was present until she shouted from the hedge. ■ | The Coroner: Was Bhe alight when yon ' saw her?—l don't think so, but there was , a ring of fire round her which I had to go E through to get to her. When _ got through . I found she was caught in the wire. I tried j to pull her out but could not do bo. She I was then till alight. . j The Coroner: You tried twice to get her 1 out I believe?— Yes, I was forced out the t first time and then went In again. . i Holden supposed that his wife went to , his assistance when he ran for the t gardener. Frank Phillips, gardener, said there was I a kind of panic because the fire got so big. He saw Holden come out of the hedge and say, "I tried my best to Bave her, but Bhe [ is gone." Mrs. Holden was entangled, with | her back across the wire. A constable said that the woman's left leg, from the knee downwards, was caught in tbe wire, and a ' i doctor stated that all her clothing was burned off. ' I The coroner, in returning a verdict of : death by misadventure, Baid there was no • doubt that the woman saw her husband - was in difficulties and on going to his assistance got caught in the flames herself.