CHILD’S DEATH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 7 September 1929, Page 5

CHILD’S DEATH.

BURNS PROVE FATAL.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. An inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Maurice George Trilford, the five-year-old son of Mr and Mrs W. G. Trilford, of Ohan-gai, who died in the Haw era Hospital on August 31, following injuries received when a fancy dress costume the child was being dressed in caught alight, wals conducted at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon before Mr R. S. S. Sage, coroner. Sergeant Henry conducted proceedings on behalf of the police. In evidence, William George Trilford, father of deceased, said that at about 0.45 p.m. on August 30 the elii-ld was being dressed by his wife’® sister to go to a fancy dress ball at Oban cal. the

child’s costume being that of a “snowman.” His wife had been dressing another child. Witness was attracted into the room by screaming from the children, finding that ,the cotton wool of deceased’s costume w r as all ablaze. The "whole of the boy’s body, excepting the head, had been covered with cotton wool, -which was sown -on to a dress underneath. Finding -that he could not null the blaz-

. ing covering- off, witness put the child L t in a bath of water. He then removed i the clothing and found that the child : was badly burned about the body and head, thereupon bringing the boy into Haw era Hospital, arriving there about J 7.10 o’clock. The child was then attended by Dr. McGhie, but died early the next morning. Dr. J. McGhie stated that more than three-quarters of the surface of the child’s body was burned, the most severe burns being on the abdomen, body and face. Despite all efforts to over- ; come the shock caused by the injuries, ! the child passed away at 5.45 a.m. the next day, the cause of death being severe shock consequent on extensive and severe burns. Death almost invariably i ensued when more than nno-tihi.vrl nf tlio I

body surface was burned, irrespective of tlie degree of burning. In eases of children, less than this area would cause death, especially if the abdomen was burned. Both the father and mother | had their hands burned and had to be! treated at the hospital. ! Zillah Hartley, 15-year-old aunt of deceased, said that she had been dressing deceased, alongside whom on a table was a. candle. Deceased reached over to pass a torch to a sister, and witness next heard one of the children scream, and then saw.that the cotton wool was alight. Mr Trilford came in when Mrs Mrs Trilford was trying to put the flames out.

To the Coroner: Witness had made an effort herself to put the flames out, using her hands, but had not thought of wrapping something round the child. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased harl met his death from burns ticeid en tally sustain ed.