"TIRED OF LIFE."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 215, 11 September 1929, Page 7

"TIRED OF LIFE."

LEAP FROM BRIDGE. PLUNGE TO GRAFTON GULLY. MAN DIES IN HOSPITAL. OLD RUGBY REPRESENTATIVE. "I am sorry to put you to this trouble. ... I have been working hard all my life, and wanted to end it." This was the calm statement made by Mr. Joseph Otway, aged 62, after he had plunged over Grafton Bridge this morning, according to Mr. A. Brown, of Astley Avenue, New Lynn, one of the party who struggled with him up the gully to an awaiting ambulance. Mr. Otway was conscious when taken to the hospital and outwardly appeared to be little injured. His condition, however, is serious, as he has severe spinal injuries. He is not expected to live. The sensation occurred shortly after 10.30 o'clock this morning, when Grafton Bridge was practically deserted by traffic. The leap, which was made from the centre of the bridge to the gully 150 feet below, was witnessed by a Mr. Morrison, who was looking out of a window in Park Road. The alarm was raised immediately and an ambulance and the police rushed to the scene. Struggle of Rescuers. Mr. Otway was a man of about seventeen stone weight and considerable difficulty was experienced in transporting him from, the gully.- He chatted with a constable continuously, and confided, according to Mr. Brown, that he had had two drinks "just to get my blood hot." "I am an old Rugby player," he added. "My wife died 20 years ago."

The place where Mr. Otway landed •was a small slip on a lateral gully, half a chain aAvay from the beaten path. Rescuers had to struggle up a slippery slope to reach him, and carry him on a stretcher along the fringe of a watercourse that.runs through the gully. Some idea of the force of the fall could be gathered from the appearance of the broken undergrowth and the hole made in the soft, wet earth, where the man had landed. It was not immediately under the bridge but some distance on the harbour side, showing that Mr. Otway had apparently thrown himself outwards as he left the parapet. Well-known Footballer. In his younger years Joseph Otway was more-iamiliarly known as "Nudger." He was a well-known Auckland rep. Rugby player, and was a member of the Newton and Grafton clubs. He represented his province from 1887 to 1898, and was one of the best centre-forwards Auckland has had. After retiring from active football he continued to take a great interest in the game. For a number of years he lived at Helensville, being a member of the shore staff of the Kaipara Steamship Co. In recent years he has followed his occupation; as a blacksmith in Auckland. In his prime he was a man of extraordinary physique, which stood him in good stead on the football field. He has been living at 135, Eden Terrace, for some time past. Mr. Otway is a widower with a large family. Mr. Otway died in the Auckland Hospital at 2.15 this afternoon.