WATERFRONT FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20084, 23 October 1928, Page 12

WATERFRONT FATALITY.

DEATH OF SHIP'S OFFICER.

GANGWAY PERFECTLY SAFE

A verdict of accidental death was returned by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, B;M., at tho inquest yesterday concerning the death of Mr. Victor Grant Allen, aged 27, second officer of the Canadian Government steamer Canadian Explorer, who was injured through falling off the gangway on Saturday evening. It was explained by Captain ff. 11. Sergeant, the harbourmaster, that the gangway was really an accommodation ladder, running down tho side of tho ship and altering in angle with tho rise and fall of the tide. A net was placed beneath it, as prescribed bv the regulations, Ho did riot think there was anything unsafe) about the gangway. /Frank Voutier, the ship's carpenter, who was coming ashore with deceased and an apprentice, Konald Tydeman, said ill'. Allen was tho first, to go down the gangway. About half-way down, deceased appeared to slip. He went over tho ropes on the gangway, si nick tinedge of the wharf and then fell into tho j water. Witness tluew off a few garments and weiil in after Mi. .Allen, lie managed to bring htm up and ho held on to a pile until a ropo wa> lowered. Mr. -A]fori was unconscious, He received attention from members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade before being taken to hospital. Corroborative evidence was given by the apprentice, Tydnmaii. Tho medical evidence of |)r. Murdoch, •who attended deceased in (he Auckland .Hospital, showed that death was duo to u fracture of (lie skull, together with partial drowning The coroner returned ;i verdict in accordaien with the medical evidence. Asked by the coronet whether ho was certain that the type of gangway used complied with the regulation. Captain ■Sergeant said it was his first e\perient>« in 20 years of anyone falling from an accommodation ladder. It was an tin iorllinato accident.