YOUNG SWIMMER'S DIVE TO DEATH
GISBOENE HARBOUR FATALITY.
GISBORXE, Last Night.
An inquest was hold to-day on William Robert Walter Plowman, aged 22, who died in hospital after a bathing accident.
His companion gave evidence that on Sunday morning last, Plowman dived into the sea from the diversion wall breakwater (part of the new harbour works), but took a long time in coining up, then sank again and blood came to the surface. Witness dived in after him and found him near the bottom, quite motionless and brought him to the surface.
Another witness said a number or concrete pile heads had been dumped alongside the wall to strengthen it and though there seemed no submerged obstruction, deceased might have hit his head on one of these.
Dr. E. E. Brown, acting medical superintendent of Cook hospital, said the body was completely paralysed below the neck, due to a fracture of the spine.
The Coroner, E. C. Levvy, S.JL, said the case was a very sad one, a young man in the prime of life and health and a strong swimmer had been cut off through striking a submerged object. A verdict was Returned that death was due to asphysia, induced by injury to the spinal cord, caused from a fracture of the spine through striking some submerged object whilst diving.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HC19290118.2.7
Bibliographic details
Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 January 1929, Page 3
Word Count
221YOUNG SWIMMER'S DIVE TO DEATH Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 January 1929, Page 3
Using This Item
NZME is the copyright owner for the Horowhenua Chronicle. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence . This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of NZME. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in