COLLAPSE ON HILL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20639, 20 August 1941, Page 4

COLLAPSE ON HILL

MEMBER OF RESERVE FITNESS QUERIED PATHOLOGIST ASTONISHED (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. “I was astonished that this man should have been passed in his medical test as fit for service,” said Mr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Public Hospital, in giving evidence at the inquest into the death of John Henry Knowles, a polish manufacturer, aged. 51 years, who collapsed and died while on manoeuvres as a member of the National Military Reserve on Scarborough Hill. Dr. Pearson made his statement, in answer to questions from the coroner, Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M. A post-mortem examination had shown that Knqwles had been suffering from degeneration of the arteries of the heart. Francis Moran Woods gave evidence that on. Sunday, June 13, he was accompanying Knowles as a member of a National Military Reserve unit which began walking to Taylor’s Mistake over the hills from Evan’s Pass. After a climb lasting about 20 minutes on one hill, the unit stopped for a spell at the top. While they were halted Knowles remarked that he found it fairly hard going and said he was very nearly going to give up that climb as he had been short of breath. He did not complain of feeling ill and after a spell of about five minutes he said he was all right. Soon afterwards he fell forward and died. Examination System Alexander Mclvor Brosnan said. he was a platoon officer of the signalling section of the 3rd Battalion, National Military Reserve, which was carrying out manoeuvres. At 11.55 a.m. the unit halted. He spoke to Knowles, who soon afterwards fell forward. Witness felt his pulse and realised he was dead.

To the coroner, Brosnan said that, the men were medically examined before they were posted to units ,in the National Military Reserve. The coroner: I have a pathologist’s report here you see and a rather extraordinary position has cropped up. Your office files should show the findings of the medical examination. Brosnan said that if the medical reports showed that the man was not fit he would not have been posted to a unit. The reports must have shown Knowles as fit if lie were put on the unit’s strength. The coroner asked Dr. Pearson whether it was his considered opinion that Knowles should not have been posted to the unit. “I will say I am astonished that he should have been,” said Dr. Pearson. “Well that’s as strong as o’e can ask,” said the coroner. “In \ lew of Dr. Pearson’s statement, I make no comment whatsoever.” A verdict was'returned of death from heart failure.