DRAMATIC ERROR

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1936, Page 5

DRAMATIC ERROR

FRIEND SENT TO DEATH Sitting in the witness chair at Rochester Coroner’s Court, a griefstricken man told how, worried by the illness of his son, the “human element” failed him, and he unwittingly sent a friend to his death. The wit-’ ness, Mr Albert E. Card, an electrical engineer, of Dartford, Kent, was giving evidence at the inquest on Robert Attwood, aged 36, wireman, of Rainham. Mr Card related how on his orders, Attwood climbed a pylon at Wouldham, near Rochester. He touched a ■wire carrying 33,000 volts fell 30ft to the ground, and died on his way to the hospital. “For 12 days,” declared Mr Card, “I had no sleep because of illness of my little son. I did not take off my clothes once. “I thought I w r ould inspect the overhead wires at Wouldham. It, w'as here that the human element failed me. I knew that the wire was charged, but my mind was on my little boy rather than on my work. I gave orders to Attwood to go up the pylon. There was a flash —and he fell to the ground.” Mrs Attwood told the coroner that she had every sympathy with Mr Card’s position, and did not wish to cast any reflection on him. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.