YOUTH DROWNED.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 91, 5 August 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

YOUTH DROWNED.

FATALITY AT MOUMOUKAI.

HEAD STRUCK WHEN FALLING

A drowning - fatality occurred on the J property owned by Mr G. Aitchison, of ! Moumoukai, about 20 miles from Papa- | kura, early yesterday morning, the victim being a youth named George StanI ley Trail, aged 19. Deceased, who was subject to fits, I which were severe and occurred at frequent intervals, had decided to take a few days' holiday, and for this reason was not missed when he failed > arrive for breakfast. With two other employees, ho slept in a cottage on the farm on one side of Ihe Mangatawhiri ! stream, but had his meals at Mr Aitchison's house on the other side. A, spring bridge was used for crossing the stream, and it seemed apparent that while crossing this, deceased had a fit and fell off the bridge. A long and wide shelf of rock ran along the side of the stream under the bridge, j and judging by the facial abrasions, deceased had hit this rock with his • head and was rendered unconscious. I The body was found by a schoolj girl, who was crossing the bridge about i 8.20, on her way to school. It was lying in about two feel of water, the head being completely submerged. When the body was recovered it was i soon seen that life had been extinct ! for some time. | An inquest was held al Mr Aitchi- ! son's residence yesterday afternoon by i the district coroner, Mr T. P. Snell, i who returned a verdict that death was ' caused by drowning in the Manga ta- | whiri stream, following a fall off a ! bridge. The funeral is to take place this ) j aflernoon at Hunua.