CRANE FAILS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 89, 12 October 1923, Page 2

CRANE FAILS

FATAL FALL "RESULTS.

The circumstances of a fatal fall from the partly-built De Luxe Theatre in Courtenay place, on 2nd October, were outlined before the Cproner (Mr. E. Page, S.M.) yesterday. John Gore was admitted' to hospital late in the g-fter-noon on that daj', i«a condition indjestjng that his spine was fractured. He ■ died at 10 p.ni. the. same day. James Innes, engineer and cranedrive-, said on the afternoon of the accident lie Vfas engaged on the building, on a stage about 40 fept up, erecting a power-crane. Deceased and two other men* were assisting him, They had just put a sleeper leg into position, and were swinging the hand cran round to get hold of the other leg, Tlie men at the prane were about, to lower the jib, whiuh was practically full, when it became disengaged and crashed onto the stage. It was falling within 13 feet of; Gore, but could not reach him. Gore appeared to lose his head, stumbled, and attempted to hold on, then fell. He might have thought, the Jib was falling on him, and endeavoured to get out of the way. The jib could not be stopped after it started to fall. The crane was supposed to be tool-proof, but on this occasion it "ot out of order. °

Evidence ehowed that < deceased hnd shortly prior to the accident, been discharged from hospital, where he had been confined with influenza The inspector of scaffolding stated, that the orane was one of the latest designs, and was. specially designed to prevent accidents such as had, in spjte of it, oc curred in this case.

Tlie Coroner found that death was due to injuries received through fctffog fr om a plotform while deceased was engaged working for Mr -Williamson, contractor The Col-oner said he would express „„ opmipn as to the efficiency of the plant At the inquest, Senior-Sergeant O Hara represented the police, Mr It A Jiollnnd, inspector of scaffolding, represented the Labour Department, Mr p J. O Regan represented the widow,'and M«uts. A W. Blair and P. H. p n ' t __S represented the contractors