LABOURER’S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 58, 1 December 1934, Page 21

LABOURER’S DEATH

Crushed by Fall of Earth

How a labourer was crushed by a fall of earth, and died <>f bis injuries, was told yesterday at the inquest before the coroner. Mr. E. Gilbertson, on the death of Charles G. Rossiter, aged 41. of Adelaide Road. Rossiter had apparently been levelling a section of land at 3’itiilii Bay. He and his mate were working in a cutting about seven feet wide by six feet high: Rossiter was shovelling soil into a wheelbarrow while the other man was loosening soil on the flat. For some reason not apparent the bank gave way, and Rossiter was completely buried. Although his face was exposed in about two minutes, it was ten minutes before he could be extracted from the landslip. He was attended by a doctor at Porirua. and removed to hospital by the Free Ambulance, but he died about 3} hours after admission. Dr. J. K. Cunningham described the man’s injuries as a fractured right leg. fractured right clavicle, fractured ribs on the right side of the chest, and damaged right lung. Death., in the doctor’s opinion, was due to shock following injury to the chest and multiple fractures. The inquest was adjourned until today.