TUNNEL FATALITY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 7

TUNNEL FATALITY

CORONER’S VERDICT Dominion Special Service. Auckland, August 3. Holding that the tunnel was as safe for the workers as it could be made, Mr. W. li. McKean, S.M., Coroner, returned a verdict of accidental death at an inquest concerning the death of illiam Everett, aged 34, a married man, who by a fall of earth on July 13 was suffocated when trapped in a tunnel. Deceased was engaged in a driving tuunel for the drainage works at Edendale. Details of the mishap were given by Bertram Segrave, who said that Everett was timbering the left side of the drive and witness was standing about a. yard .behind him when tlie drive caved in. “I was caught by the legs, and Everett was completely covered up.’’ said witness. “After 1 extricated myself deceased told me to hurry up and remove some of the timber, from him. I tried to reach hint, but found it was impossible. I then got. help from neighbours. “The only explanation 1 cau give is that the slip came off a ‘greasy back’ in the face of the tunnel, aud pushed the timbers out of plumb and let oue come away,” said George Sage, who was in charge of the shift working underground j .t before Evciett came on duty at midnight. He said that would- also account for the second and third slips. He did not know what else could have been done to make the tunnel safer than it was. Medical evidence was to the effect that death was hie to suffocation. In returning his verdict Mr. McKean said all the usual and necessary precautions had been taken to make the tunnel safe for the workers. All the timber in the tunnel was sound, and it appeared that the slip was due to the heavy rains experienced about the time of the fatality.