Fell From Rail Bridge

Northern Advocate, 24 January 1947, Page 2

Fell From Rail Bridge

(Special) DARGAVILLE. This Day

A young man lost his life by drowning early yesterday morning when he fell from the Pukehuia railway bridge into the Northern Wairoa River, about 60ft below. A woman companion had a miraculous escape from sharing the same fate when she too, ’ fell from the bridge -into the river. The victim of the tragedy was: Mr Harold Osborne. 32. single, fourth son of Mr and Mrs P. J. Osborne, of Tangowahine.

The woman was Miss Margaret Greenwood, of Palmerston North, who is spending a holiday with Mr and Mrs Osborne.

Miss Greenwood's only known injury is contusion to one eye. After she fell into the water she struck out for the nearest bank about a chain and a half away. Reaching the bank she caught hold of some young willows and succeeded in dragging herself ashore.

JIGGER ON LINE Mr Osborne and Miss Greenwood were returning home from a dance at Pukehuia when the fatality occurred.

They were reported to have been almost half way across the railway bridge which spans the Northern Wairoa River when a motor jigger operated by a Maori, Mr Te Wiiwhi Panapa. employed as a surfaceman by the Railways Department and carrying four other men, overtook' the couple. It is not known whether the jigger struck - the couple or whether, in an endeavour to get clear of the track, they missed their footing and fell into the river. There was a full tide running at the time of the accident. It is a common practise for Kirikopuni and Tangowahine residents ro use the bridge as a Pedestrian crossing when attending dances. A sports coat worn by Mr Osborne was discovered washed up on the bank about 100 yards up-stream. It was turned inside out when found.