FALL FROM OVERBRIMS

Evening Star, Issue 17543, 24 December 1920, Page 2

FALL FROM OVERBRIMS

YOTmG MASTS DEARTH. THE INQUEST, An inquest was held at the? Hospital yesterday afternoon, before Mir' H. T. Widdowsoa, S.M. (sitting as coroner), on the body of Frederick i<ric Koch, who died as the result of injuries through a fall from the Anderson Bay road overbridge early on Wednesday morning. Subinspector Murray appeared for the police, and Mr J. Taylor (loco, fooeman) represented the Railway Department. William Henry Koch, laborer, of Otautau, said deceased was his son, and was 20 years of age. Witness last saw him alive in June. Dr A. Q. M'Clymont said deceased was admitted to the Hospital at 3.45 a-m. en Wednesday. He w a s totally tmconscious, and there were abrasions above the right eye and the left temple bone. Indications also pointed to fractare of the neck just at the base of the skulL His condition was hopeless, and he died about 5 a.m. The cause of death, in his opinion, was shock, following fracture of the bass of the ekulL William Pullar, night foreriftn, said deceased was one of thirty-two cleaners employed on the night of the 22nd, and came on duty at 10 o'clock. Deceased had been employed there for about six and a-half weeks. From 2 till in the morning the cleaners had a spell for a meaL , Ttie cleaners left the shed to go outside for their meal, and at about 2.25 one of them came back and informed witness oT the accident. Deceased, who was carried into a shed, appeared to have two scalp wounds. Dr Gordon Macdonald was sent for, and arrived at about five minutes to 5. They made deceased as comfortable as possible. He was quite conscious for a while, tint lapsed into unconsciousness before the doctor arrived. " In reply to Mr Taylor, witness said there was a room where the cleaners could have their 'meals. It was not necessary in the of their dtrfy to go on the overbridge at aIL Mr Taylor: Technically &ey would be trespassing' by going on the overbridue. William Edward Dray, cleaner, said he was employed with deceased, and went with him to have lurch on the bank -t about five past 2. Afcter lunch they to»k a stroll not quite to the south end of the bridge over the Anderson Bav road. There were six of them, including deceased. When about halfway across the bridge, when returning, deceased stopped to light a cigarette. Witness -i'lT-nerl to look,, and saw a dark flash disappearing. Witness and the others hurried down the embankment, and found deceased lying across the lower lino. He was Weeding and unconscious. Mr PuHar and witness carried hint to a room in the ehed. Deceased had not, to "witness's knowledge, been ove xtbe bridge before. Witness did not know that he and his mates had no right on that part cf the line. Thomas J. Freeman gave similar evidence. The Coroner returned a verdict thafe, deceased died as the result of shock ■follo-w----ing injuries received throuei. accidentally foiling from the Anderson Bay road overbridge to the railway Bne below.