FATHER'S ORDEAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20564, 15 May 1930, Page 8

FATHER'S ORDEAL.

AID FOR INJURED SON, FATALLY CRUSHED BY HORSE, CRAWL FOR ASSISTANCE, Tlio story of a father's ordeal was ro. vealcd at tlio inquest at Papakura yog. terday concerning the death of Ronald Frederick McCrae, aged nine years. The boy was fatally injured when a horse fell on him at Clcvedon on March 15. In a written statement, John Richard McCrae, father of the boy, said lie was riding round his farm of a horse, his son being seated behind him. As the animal was ascending a steep hill it stumbled and reared, then fell backwards upon thorn. Though temporarily stunned, Mr. McCrao was soon able to crawl to his son who complained that he had iniernal pains and was unable to walk. Mr. McCrac thought his own leg was broken. However, when he could find no fracture bo camo to the conclusion that his hip. joint had become dislocated. He knocked his hip against tlio trunk of a tree in an effort to remedy the matter. Then he crawled some distance over a hill until ho saw a Maori boy, who caught his horso for him, JIo mounted and went to a neighbour's house for assistance. Ho procured a bottle of brandy and se;; out to return to his son. However, tho pain in his injured leg became, so great that he was forced to dismount and crawl part of the distance. When ho had given the injured boy a drink assistance arrived and the lad was placed upon a horso. For a great part of the distance ho rode tho animal himself. As the result of his own injuries it was necessary for Mr. McCrae to enter tho hospital, and he was still unable to walk without crutches. The coroner returned a verdict that death was caused by injuries received through being accidentally crushed by a falling horso.