INQUESTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 72, 22 September 1943, Page 6

INQUESTS

FATAL ELECTRIC SHOCK

An inquest into the death of Frederick Ditchfield, a married man employed by the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, who -.vas electrocuted at Mangaroa on September 1, was held by Mr. W. G. Mellish, Coroner, yesterday. The evidence showed that deceased, was working on a y live low-tension I wire on the cross-arm of a pole with j his right hand, when his left hand came in contact with another live wire, the two wires giving a combined voltage of 400 volts. He was given prompt attention and efforts at resuscitation were continued for 3| hours without avail. A pair of rubber gloves was carried in the truck in which deceased and his workmate travelled, but these were not used by the deceased or by the other man until after the accident. In answer to Mr. C. J. O'Regan, who appeared for the widow, expert witnesses said it was not compulsory to use gloves. The use of gloves made the using of pliers difficult. The finding was that < deceased met his death by accidentally receiving an electric shock. DEATH OF A CYCLIST. On August 27 John Caldwell O'Connell, a New Zealand soldier, collided with a truck driven by a United States marine, and died shortly afterwards. Evidence was given by the truck driver that the truck, driven at a low speed along White's Line East, Lower Hutt, was about to turn into Hawkins Street when the deceased was seen approachi ing at a high speed on a bicycle. The I truck was stopped immediately and was stationary when the deceased approached. Though attention was immediately available the deceased was dead when medical aid arrived. j The finding was that death was due Ito head injuries and laceration of the brain. STRUCK BY TRAIN. The death of Walter Charles Powell, of Moera, who was struck by a train near the Randwick Road ramp on September 4, was also investigated by Mr. Mellish. The Coroner found that the deceased met his death as a consequence of his own act in crossing the railway at an unauthorised place with his head bent down against heavy wind and rain.