WORKMAN KILLED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 6

WORKMAN KILLED

FALL OF. SUPERPHOSPHATE

CAUGHT AND BURIED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, March 29,

Buried under several tons of superphosphate In the Westfield chemical manure works of Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co., Ltd., an employee received injuries from which he died shortly afterwards. The victim was John Abraham Burgess, aged about 50, married, Papakura.

Speedy rescue work by several of Mr. Burgess's workmates prevented him< from being suffocated, but he was crushed about the chest by the weight of the material.

The mishap occurred about 1.30 p.m. Mr. Burgess, who was employed as a labourer in the superphosphate shed, was operating a rotary loading mechanical plant, which works in somewhat similar fashion to a dredge. It is used to convey superphosphate to the loading hoppers. A conveyer scoops the material from the face of a large stack of artificial manure.

Mr. Burgess was . shovelling loose material close to the face of the stack when several tons rolled down from the top like an avalanche and completely buried him. Strenuous work by several other employees uncovered Mr. Burgess within less than k a minute and he was extricated semi-conscious. Artificial respiration restored him to consciousness and he was sent to the Auckland Hospital in an ambulance, but died before reaching hospital.