TERRIBLY INJURED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 4, 6 January 1931, Page 8

TERRIBLY INJURED.

RUAWAI WOMAN'S FATE.

EXPLOSION OF SPIRITS. CLOTHING BURNED OFF BODY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DARGAVILLE, this day.' , Fatal injuries were suffered by a single woman, Miss Phyllis Finlayson, aged 22 years, at the home of her father, Mr. Phillip Finlayson, of Ruawai, when a tin containing methylated spirits exploded and set fire to her clothing. The accident happened at 4.30 o e 'clock in the afternoon, and death • followed some six hours later. Attention was attracted to the mishap by a loud explosion and a flash of flame. The young woman, who was terribly burned, was found in the bathroom, and all that

remained of her clothing was the girdle of a dressing gown which she had been wearing. She remained conscious, and was able to narrate the circumstances of the accident. Apparently she was using methylated spirits in the usual manner for heating the burner of a benzine iron, preparatory to lighting it. The spirits ignited a celluloid brush, and the flame from this, in turn, came into contact with the fumes'from the container of the methylated spirits, which Avas standing nearby. The flame which accompanied the following explosion ignited the dressing gown. The young woman rushed to the bathroom, but the flames had enveloped the whole of her body, . inflicting terrible" injuries before she was able to quell them. An inquest was held before Mr. J. A. McLean, when a verdict of death from shock, following severe and extensive burns as the result of an 'acident, was returned. [ Miss Finlayson was a popular young | lady in the Iluawai district, and her tragic death has caused widespread regret and sympathy with her relatives. The funeral took place at the family burying ground at Waipu.