BURIED UNDER OATS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14232, 1 December 1909, Page 7

BURIED UNDER OATS.

COLLAPSE OF A LOFT.

A FATAL ACCIDENT

A sad accident occurred at the stables occupied by Messrs. J. J. Craig, Limited, Beach Road, yesterday morning, whereby the foreman, Mr. Geo. Leyland, lost his life. The cause of the accident was the collapse of a loft piled with bags of oats and chaff, under which deceased was standing. Ho was pinned down and severely injured by the falling woodwork, and the bags fell on top of him. When he was extricated a few minutes later, life was extinct, and it was evident death had been almost instantaneous.

A crack in the loft had been noticed by Mr. Leyland shortly before the accident, and he had despatched a messenger for % carpenter to repair it. He then stood under the loft talking to an employee named Jas. Crawford, when a cracking noise was heard, and the loft collapsed. Both men jumped for safety, and Crawford succeeded in reaching a stall beyond reach of the falling bags. Several ot the horses were penned in with sacks, but were not injured.

Mr. Leyland, who lived in Jermynstreet, was a married man with two children, and was held in high esteem by his employers and fellow employees. He had been foreman of the stables for about three years, and prior to that was in the employ of the firm, whose service ho left to go to Australia. He was between 50 and 60 years of age.

An inquest will be held this morning.