SAD DROWNING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4418, 13 November 1934, Page 3

SAD DROWNING FATALITY.

LITTLE BOY LOSES LIFE IN MUNICIPAL. BATHS.

ENTERED BATHS UNNOTICED,

A sad drowning fatality occurred in the Municipal baths, shortly after 11 a.m. yesterday, as a result of which “Bobbie,” the three-year-old son of Mr and Mrs R. Morris, of Coley Street, lost his life. The child, in some way or other found its way into the swimming pool unnoticed by the caretaker (Mrs Dudson). Mrs Dudson left the baths a short time prior to the discovery when Mr and Mrs J. Shorthouse were in bathing. On her return after about half an hour Mr and Mrs Shorthouse had left, and on glancing around the baths she did not see anyone about. She then entered her office and engaged in writing .up her season’s tickets. After a few moments the child Shaw came to her and told her that the little boy was in the water and on going out she saw him floating on his back near the edge at the shallow end. She immediately pulled him out and rushed into the street with the little chap in her anus. Mr W. D. Neville was standing outside the Council Chambers and she called to him. He at once commenced artificial respiration pending the arrival of the doctor, who was summoned immediately. Messrs S. Bills, K. Martin, and L. Thompson, members of the Foxton Surf and Life Saving Club, rvho were handy at the time, took charge of the resuscitation work, which was carried out assiduously until the arrival of the doctor but without success. i

It appears that the child Monts, with two, other children, Jean Shaw, aged five and a sister aged three, were' playing in Easton Park during the morning. With the approach of dinner time Mrs Shaw sent an elder daughter to summon the children home for lunch. When they saw her approaching across the park the children attempted to run away and the Mon*is child ran into the baths. Jean Shaw, who followed him, fofind him floating in the water. She says she ran to Mrs Dudson immediately and informed her what had happened. It is somewhat difficult to know whether the child ran into the baths before Mrs Dudson’s return or after. It would be possible for the child to slip past the office unnoticed as he was in bare feet. Only a very short time elapsed between Mr and Mrs Shorthouse leaving the baths and Mrs Dudson’s return and Mr Shorthouse is quite certain there was no one other than themselves in the baths at the time they were there.

THE INQUEST,

The inquest into the circumstances concerning the death of the child was held in the Courthouse this afternoon, before Mr. Alf. Fraser, Coroner. Mr- M. B. Bergin represented the Borough Council. Robert Morris, labourer, of Coley Street, in evidence, stated that ho was the father of the child. His son was a robust child and had not suffered any illnesses. He was three years of age and was permitted' to play on Easton Park with other children as it was considered that it would be a safe place away from motor traffic. Rosa May Dudson, of Purcell St., caretaker of the baths, slated in evidence, that she ope.ned the baths at 10 a.m. yesterday morning and at about 10.30 a.m. Mr and Mrs J. Shorthouse and Mrs Fuller arrived. Witness* was then in the act of going over to. the Municipal Chambers to deposit some money and passed Mr and Mrs Shorthouse and Mrs Fuller in the drive outside the baths. After leaving the Council Chambers witness called at the plumber’s and on her return at Walls’ baker’s shop for bread. She then returned immediately to the baths. ~ On her return Mr and Mrs Shftrtliouse and Mrs Fuller had gone and there .was nobody in the baths. Witness purposely looked around the baths and was quite certain there was no one there then. Witness then went into her office which is situated at the entrance to the swimming pool and about ten minutes later a little girl named Shaw came to her and said: “Bobby’s in the baths.” Witness immediately ran out to the swimming pool and saw a small boy floating on his back near the southwest end of the pool. This is the shallow end, where the water is only 2ft. 6in. deep. By lying down on the edge of the baths witness could, reach the boy and she pulled him out. She held him head down for a moment or so in an endeavour to rid him of any water. He was alive and moved his eyes and body. Witness then rushed out into the street with the child and handed him over to Mr W. D. Neville and some other men.

Witness estimated the time she was absent from the baths at half an hour and during that time the public entrance door was open as witness considered it was quite safe to be away with Mr and Mrs Shorthojuse at the baths. Witness did not see deceaed enter the baths nor did she hear anyone walking about. Deceased, however, was bare-footed and it would be possible for him to enter unheard. It would be quite a simple matter for a small child to enter the baths unnoticed if witness happened to have her hack to the window at the time. Deceased was attired in his ordinary clothes and did not have any bathing suit. When witness left the baths she did not see any children playing in Easton Park, the only persons she saw being Mr

and Mrs Shorthouse and Mrs Fuller. Within the last week witness had warned a sister of deceased, as well, as deceased and a younger child against playing about the batbs. To Mr Bei’gin, witness said that the child was floating about two feet from the south-west steps. She heax’d no sound at all. She did not notice whether the gii’l Shaw was barefooted or not. There was no opening in the south wall of the office other than the ticket window and it would be impossible for her to see anything below the level of the ticket-window when seated. . The baths are not usually well patronised during school terms between 10 and 11 a.m. except when pupils visit the baths accompanied by their teachers.

John Stephen Shorthouse, proprietor of the Post Office Hotel, in evidence, stated that at 10.30 a.m. yesterday when visiting ,the baths for a swim in company with his wife and Mrs Fuller, they passed Mrs Dudson in the drive leaving the baths. Witness’ party remained in the baths for about half an hour and were the only persons there. They did not see any children in thcPark or baths. Witness first learned of the drowning when he sawseveral men attempting ai’tificial respiration,on the child outside his hotel at about 11.15 a.m. , William David Neville, waterworks foi’eman, deposed that at 11.15 a.m. he was' standing in Main Street outside the .Council Chambers when he saw Mi’S Dudson rush down the drive from the baths carrying a child in her arms. Witness took the child, laid him on the grass and comemnced artificial respiration and this was kept up until the arrival of the doctor' half an hour later. On examination of the body, the doctor proclaimed life to be extinct.

Witness considered the child was alive when he took charge of him but he appeared to pass away a few moments later. During the whole of the time witness worked on deceased only about a tea-cup of saliva and water came from his mouth.

To Mr’ Bergin witness said that he had bad previous experience at artificial respiration. He noticed grass on the back of the child’s tongue when working on him. It would be impossible for the child to have got grass in his mouth in the baths. The water was let go yesterday afternoon when the baths were found to be quite clean. The o-rass had the appearance of having been chewed. Witness was confident that he could save the child when he took it and was surprised to find so little water in him and also to discover that no air was going into the body during treatment.

Jean Shaw, aged five years, described how she was playing in Easton Park yesterday morning with deceased and her brother. Towards lunch time she saw Bobby Morris, go into the baths building and a short time after she went in to take him home. When she got inside she saw him in the water. She was accompanied by her sister, Kathie, wlio told Mrs Dudson that Bobby was in the water. Dr. E. ‘M. Wyllie, in evidence, stated that when he examined the child at 11.30 a.m. it was dead. Subsequently witness inspected deceased when the appearances were those of asphyxia and shock similar to the appearance of drowning, although in this ease the suggestions of asphyxia were less marked and those of shock more marked than was usual in drowning.. There was a blade of grass on the tongue. From appearances and statements witness considered that on removal from the water the child was alive but dying; that it was not possible that the child had been in the water for more than two minutes, and 'that the cause of death was shock and asphyxia following on immersion in water. The asphyxia may have been due to water or a blockage of the larynx by a wad of grass. Witness added that the measures taken to resuscitate the child were sound and skilful and had there been less shock in this case and the patient been older the resuscitation measures would probably have saved its life. Kathleen Shaw, aged 17, stated that she went to call the children from the park yesterday morning. On arrival there only her sister and brother met her and she asked where Bobby Morris was. Jean said he was in the baths. Witness went into the baths and saw the child floating on the water near the steps. Witness told Mrs Dudson what she had s§en. iConstable Robert Owen tendered evidence concerning an examination of the body. He was unable to find any marks of violence but there was a slight discolouration on the right cheek which may have been a slight bruise but there was no abrasion of the skin. A small speck of blood was on the lower lip but the parents explained that this came from a scratch sustained when the child 1 fell over a hen coop earlier in the morning. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his death by falling into the municipal swimming batbs, death being due to shock and asphyxia, resulting on immersion in the cold water.