BURNED ALIVE IN HEDGE.

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

BURNED ALIVE IN HEDGE.

TERRIBLE ORDEAL OF A HUSBAND. 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. Holden said 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 she alight when yon saw her?—l don't think so, but there was a ring of fire round her which I had to go through to get to her. When I got through I found she was caught in the wire. I tried to pull her out but could not do so. She I was then all alight. The Coroner: You tried twice to get her out I believe? —Yes, I was forced out the first time and then -went in again, i Holden supposed that his wife went to his assistance -when he ran for the gardener. Frank Phillips, gardener, said there was a kind of panic because tbe fire got so big. He saw Holden come out of the hedge and say, "I tried my best to save her, but she 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 the wire, and a I doctor stated that all her clothing was burned off. I The coroner. In returning a verdict of death by misadventure, said there was no doubt that the woman saw ber husband I was in difficulties and on going to his assistance got caught in the flames herself