FALL TO SHIP'S DECK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20891, 5 June 1931, Page 10

FALL TO SHIP'S DECK.

BOY LOSES 'HiS LIFE.

DROP OF 60 FEET. GRIP ON LINE GIVES WAY. EFFORT TO EMULATE SAILOR. [by TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Thursday. Swinging hand-over-hard on a line stretched between the masts of the vessel Aratapu at the Waitara Wharf last night, a 17-year-old boy, Alan Turner, lost his grip and fell 60ft. to the deck. First-aid was Riven and he was immediately taken to the New Plymouth Hospital, but he died on admission. The causes of death were head injuries and broken limbs. Turner had seen a sailor perform the feat without difficulty, and he was determined to emulate him. He had been prevented from doing so earlier by another boy, who last evening went to tho ship just in tima to see Turner crash heavily to the deck. Twice Turner had succeeded in passing hand-over-hand from maE.t to mast. On the third attempt the strain began to tell and ho became exhausted midway. After almost collapsing, he went on slowly, and was only a little way from his objective when he fell like a stone.