FATAL FALL FROM TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20392, 22 October 1929, Page 14

FATAL FALL FROM TRAIN.

ACCIDENT NEAR PAERATA.

VERDICT AT THE INQUEST,

A verdict of accidental death was returned by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at tho inquest held yesterday into the death of John Fryer, who fell from a. special race-train at Paerala shortly after 7 p.m. on October 5. Deceased was removed to the Auckland Hospital by ambulance, but died the following morning from his injuries, which included loss of the loft leg and a compound fracturo of the right arm. Deceased, who was aged 50 and was a share-milker, resided with his wife and four children in Helvetia Road, Pukekohe. Medical evidence was given by Dr. Griffiths, of tho Auckland Hospital, who stated that the cause of death was shock caused by deceased's injuries. It appeared as though tho train had passed over deceased. A passenger on the train, Harry Booth, stated that he saw Fryer pass through the carriage and cross the platform to the next carriage. He did not enter the other carriage but opemjd the gate at the side of tho platform as if to sit on tho step. Witness commenced to go out to see him. thinking he was sick, but when he had taken two steps deceased' fell and witness felt a bump. Witness knew that the train must bavo passed over deceased, and he informed the guard and tho train was stopped. A companion of Booth in tho same carriage, Robert John Glover, gave corroborative evidence. In bis opinion deceased went to sit on tho carriage step and fell off the train, which was rolling. Deceased did not appear to havo had liquor. Tho finding of deceased was described by Arthur Daniel Jamieson, a farm hand, who said that he was waiting for a train near the' Pnorata, crossing. Ho did not see the race-train pass, but heard groaning and then found Fryer lying on tho Cattle-Stop. He called assistance and tho Pukekoho police were informed, deceased then being brought in to the hospital by ambulance.