CHILD’S DEATH AT GERALDINE Inquest Concluded

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28529, 7 March 1958, Page 8

CHILD’S DEATH AT GERALDINE Inquest Concluded

(From Out Own Reporter) GERALDINE. March 6. An "inquest into the death of Rosemary Helen Burgin, aged six years and a half, who was found collapsed in a bath at the Braeside Private Hospital at Geraldine on February 4, 1958, was concluded at Geraldine yesterday afternoon.

• After evidence had been heard » the District Coroner (Mr J. M. { Jenkins) returned a verdict that I the child died from drowning • in a bath at Braeside Private ; Hospital at Geraldine. • The parents of the child were • represented by Mr A. D. Holland. • of Christchurch, and for the • matron of Braeside Hospital by J Mr A. N. Blakiston, of Geraldine. !On behalf of the parents of the child (Mr T. Burgin and Mrs Burgin), Mr Holland said he had J been Instructed on their behalf J to say that they were greatly • indebted to the staff of the hosJ pital fend attached no blame on to • the hospital and staff. Every- ’ thing possible had been done, t In her evidence. Winifred • Cowan, matron at the Braeside 2 Hospital, said that on May 17 • 1954, Rosemary Helen Burgin, at 2 the age of two years and th rect quarters had been admitted as a J patient As an infant of some • months old she had suffered • severe attacks of cerebral-spinal 2 meningitis, resulting in almost • total blindness and a hydro- * cephalic condition. She was un- - able to sit up or lift her head j from the pillow and her right leg » and arm were also affected. She • had a history of convulsions and a was sensative to noise. » Since admission to hospital J deceased had been bathed daily • enjoying the operation. From an 2 early age she had been encour- * aged to play in the bath water. * where she became expert and * could manoeuvre from any pos- « ition and sit up. J With the child’s ability in the • water constant supervision that • was always in existence was 2 slightly relaxed. Brief periods t of absence of those supervising 2 the child was allowed, but any • period of absence would not ex- • ceed 10 minutes. " At approximately 10.20 a.m. on • February 4 Sister Arscott reported 2 to her that deceased had been i found in a collapsed state in the 2 bath. Artificial respiration and 2 other steps taken to revive the • child had not succeeded. 2 Lawrence Carrington Mail. * medical practitioner, said on 2 arrival he found deceased being t, given artificial respiration as she 2 had collapsed in her bath and 2 was apparently drowned. Oxygen • and stimulants were given and J artificial respiration applied for two hours without avail. He had informed the police an<J asked for 2 a post mortem. * Dr. F. C. Hawes, who had per- " formed the post-mortem examinj ation, said in answer to a ques- * tion that it was virtually certain 4 from his investigations that the • child had suffered a fit before