LEAP TO DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 162, 12 July 1939, Page 10

LEAP TO DEATH.

FALL IN HARBOUR. FATE OF PARACHUTIST. "ACCIDENTAL DROWNING." An inquest into the trapic death of the younjr Hamilton parachutist, Mr. Leo Edgar Anzac Havward. aped 24, near the Mangere aerodrome on Sunday. June was resumed at Onehunga this after--110011. Mr. Havward jumped from an Auckland Ai'ii) Club machine at a height of 2IH.H) feet and landed in the Manuk.iu Harbour. He was rescued, but resuscitation methods proved unavailing. At the inquest, which was held before Mr. F. K. Hunt, coroner. Squadron-Leader D. M. Allan described how Hayward had ma<le hU jump from a heipht of 2000 ft. He had made many jumps from witness' "plane.

In answer to a question from Mr. Hunt, w illl».><— said that both lie and Mr. Hay ward decided that the weather was suitable for a jump. Mr. Hum: Do yon see any object in doing any mow of thce-e parachute jumps V Witness: Xo. I think they serve no useful ]>ui|um'. Dect ;i-cii's father asked witness whether he thought the boat which rescued hi- f-u was adequate in an emei veii'y. and wliether more adequate V;' ilitics might be provided on a future I :1 -ion. Mr, Hunt: T do not think there will be any more done in the future. After several witnesses had given evident of the rescue of the parachutist. Mr. Hunt returned a verdict of accidental drowning.