FALL INTO HOT POOL

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 16, 19 July 1932, Page 9

FALL INTO HOT POOL

TRAGIC END; TO 'DANCE

:' An inquest was held at ,Bo jtorua'' onSaturday concerning the ■; death of Mr. Edward Baxter, who received ifatal injuries through: falling into a hot pool at Wha&arewarewa on 2nd July." ::. ■ Dr. B. G. Thompson said that on the morning, of 3rd July,.: at about one o clock, the- deceased was brbnght into the ■ King George. Hospital suffering : f r <W injuries caused through falling unto a^ hot pool. The e'ausb of death was shpek following' extensive scalds. ,J.nere was. no explanation given aa to the, cause of the delay irt bringing the deceased into the hospital, although he dad not think that the delay would have mSde any difference ia saving the man's life, •:■■■■•■■•'■■.:.

Cynl Smith said he was in the company of the deceased on the night of ; the occurrence. They proceeded to H arewre» ftom Rotorua- at about 10.30 ri.m. to attend a dance. They were accompanied by, four, young ladies. Shortly after 11 p.m. witness, in company with the deceased and a. Native named T.ohini, went to the dining hall about fifty yards away: from the dancing hall to,arrange for supper for the party. There was . a great deal .of steam in the vicinity of the dining hall coming from the hot springsv in close proximity. After the supper arrangements had boen made, Mr. Baxter left.the dining hall to fetch the ladies, and shortly after leaving, "a loud scream was. heard. , Witness rushed out proceded by Tohini. He followed ■ Tohini and, later assisted in getting Mr. Baiter put of the pool. Later he accompanied the deceased to the hospital in a private car. Witness was of the opinion thai after leaving the hall Mr. Baxter fell over a cold water pipe near the e>dgo of the pool, and that ho rolled down into the hot water. ~*He was prepared to say1 that the pool was unsafe and that it should be fenced. Ngntapiri Tohihisaid that when the deceased left the dining hall he said [that le was going. to fetch the girls. | Soon .-after-he left the hall witness heard., someone calling: out in- Maori that somebody had fallen1 into a hot. ppol.\ He rushes out of the front door and oxi the1 loft hand side of the door was a hot pool into which Mr. Baxter had fallen. He was lying on his back in they water. Witness caught hold of th_e deceased's clothing and pulled him-o\jt of the pool. 'Nobody helped him mitil after he.had brought the deceased Out and had called for help. Mr. Smith then came up and gavo assistance. There was a private car near-' by and; in this the deceased was taken to the ■, hospital: The next morning witness- said he saw that tho water pipe, which was above the ground and ran parallel with the dining hall, had been shrttod about four inches. The pool was situated about nine feet from the entrance to the hall, and there was a light ..outside. As far as he could say the accident happened at a quarter past eleven.

The Caroner (Mr. S. L. I'aterson): But Dr. Thompson said that the deceased dwl not arrive at the hospital until.one o'clock."

It was decided to adjourn tho inquest m <?idor to enable tho question of the seemingly late arrival of tho ambulance, to be cleared up.