A FATAL DIVE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1924, Page 8

A FATAL DIVE

TRAGEDY ON STEAMER KENT

FIREMAN KILLED INSTANTLY^

While attempting to dive, from the mast of the steamer Kent, berthed at the Glasgow Wharf, a fireman named George Smith, 28 years of age, met his death shortly before 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Smith had climbed to the main-truck of one of the masts, and in attempting to dive into the harbour, struck the ship's rail, and was killed instantaneously. The circumstances of the accident were investigated by the Coroner (Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.), at the Magistrate's Court this morning. Thomas O'Donohue, a greaser on the s.s. Kent, said he noticed deceased standing on the truck of the mast, facing the' starboard side of the boat He called out to Smith, "Don't be f6olish, come down!" Smith replied, "As soon as the wind drops, I will get it," meaning a clear dive. A. few seconds later he dived. The wind seemed to catch him, and caused him to swerve into the hand-rails of the upper' deck. He struck the hand rails, and then fell to the well deck. He never moved after the fall. The ship-'s doctor attended immediately, but the man was dead. Witness had never seen or known of any person having dived from the truck of the mainmast of the Kent before. The fall would be approximately 40 feet from the truck to the well deck. He thought the deceased would have cleared all right had it not been for the wind. He believed that deceased, who was a very clever swimmer and diver, had a wife living in London. 1 Dr. Herbert Cardin, medical officer on the Kent,'- said that deceased was in good health, and was of very fine physique. He had a reputation as a good swimmer and diver. He must have been killed instantaneously. The Coroner's verdict was that deceased died from injuries accidentally received through striking the rail of the s.s. Kent in attempting to dive from the main truck into the harbour. Deceased had the reputation of being a good swimmer and diver, and a man of high spirits. The position on the mast, 40 feet from the deck,' appeared to involve come risk, and the deceased evidently realised that, as he was waiting for a lull. :