Skier died after T-bar mishap

Press, 18 December 1985, Page 6

Skier died after T-bar mishap

An Australian skier colK about three hours >eing struck by part of a T-bar at Mount Hutt Skifield and he later died.

The Christchurch Deputy Coroner, Mr Colin Marshall, found that Terrence Kevin Fordham, aged 24, of Sydney, died of a cerebral haemorrhage on September 20, as a result of being struck on the head by a Tbar two days earlier. Constable James Bennie told the Court that Mr Fordham was struck a glancing blow by part of a T-bar when he was about to get on to it. Mr Fordham told a comS anion that it had hurt but e had continued ski-ing. About two hours after the accident he complained of a headache and then told his companion he was feeling dizzy and numb down his right-hand side.

A ski patrol attended Mr Fordham who started having convulsions and was taken to a first aid room before being flown by helicopter to Christchurch Hospital. He was deeply unconscious.

One of Mr Fordham’s companions, Mr Stuart Colwell, said that the accident had happened about midday. Mr Fordham had a small lump on his temple but was happy to ski on and was coherent.

At 3.15 p.m., Mr Fordham had complained of numbness and tingling and when getting out of the chairlift was dragging his right leg uselessly and the ski patrol was called, said Mr Colwell.

Constable Bennie said that inquiries showed the approach to the T-bar was too close to the turn-wheel and skiers did not have enough time to sight the T-

bar before being positioned for the take-up. The danger had been explained to the Mount Hutt Ski Company and the loading queue was than shifted further up the line so that there was no chance of anyone being hit on the head.

Skiers had more time to move into line before being offered the ride by the operator, the T-bar was higher and was more stable. The police were satisfied with the level of safety, said Constable Bennie. The Coroner said the company could not be considered responsible for what had happened and that he was satisfied that the remedial steps taken would avoid a similar accident happening again. ANTARCTIC FIRE

A fireball which raced through a water tank at

Davis Base in Antarctica, left a man with burns to 70 per cent of the body, from which he later died.

Stephen Ross Sunning, aged 34, was a building foreman at the Australian base and had been coating the inside walls of the empty tank with a volatile chemical sealer before the fire on October 28. Constable Bennie said that Mr Bunning suffered extensive second and thirddegree burns and received medical attention at Davis Base, but died while he was being transferred to McMurdo Base for further treatment on October 30.

Mr Norbert Trupp, a communications officer, was working near the tank when the alarm sounded. Acrid smoke had collected close to the ceiling and Mr Trupp noticed Mr Bunning staggering towards the exit door.

Mr Running’s remaining clothes were smoking slightly, there was no hair left on his body or face and his skin was burnt and peel-

ing, said Mr Trupp. The officer in charge at Davis Base, Mr Paul Butler, said that Mr Bunning had returned to the tank after doing most of the sealing work to do some “touch up” jobs. , Because the amount of work was small, it appeared that he did not turn on the ventilation equipment, said Mr Butler.

A light bulb was somehow broken which ignited the vapour forming a fireball with Mr Bunning trapped inside, he said. Mr Butler said Mr Bunning had been extremely safety conscious and the decision to return to the tank without full ventilation had been an error of judgment.

The Coroner said that he found no fault or negligence by Mr Bunning but the case emphasised the need to adhere closely to chemical manufacturers’ safety instructions.

He found that Mr Bunning died of 70 per cent bums suffered in the accident.