Coroner’s conclusion changed by analyst

Press, 22 August 1979, Page 13

Coroner’s conclusion changed by analyst

PA Masterton The Wairarapa District Coroner (Mr D. B. Leitch)’ has said that as a result of information received from Mr I. R. C. McDonald, the Dominion Analyst of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the comment hq made at an inquest into the death of Alexander Peter Rimene requires qualification. Evidence given at the inquest had showed that Mr Rimene had died of cyanide poisoning after breathing fumes produced by smouldering polyurethane (not, as was previously reported, polystyrene). At the inquest the Coroner said, “Had the padding of the couch been horse-hair or an older type of padding Mr Rimene would have been with us today.” The Coroner said yesterday that evidence at the inquest had been concerned solely with the products of

combustion of polyurethane but as a result of further information from the Dominion Analyst it was now apparent that horse hair or an older type of padding could have been equally fatal.

The Dominion Analyst had said, “A horse-hair, feather, o r polyurethane-padded couch could be closely similar in respect of hydrogencyanide production but a rubber-foam or cotton-pad-ded couch would not produce hydrogen cyanide.” The Coroner said the real lesson to be drawn from the inquest was that to fall asleep while smoking was to run the very real risk of death. Earlier, a scientist in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in Christchurch, Mr D, Hills, had said that polystyrene did not give off cyanide and that the substance in the couch had almost certainly been polyurethane foam.