FATAL FALL OF ROCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20901, 17 June 1931, Page 12

FATAL FALL OF ROCK.

ACCIDENT AT MISSION BAY. OPEN VERDICT RETURNED. A verdict of accidental death was returned by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the inquest yesterday into the death of John Joseph Flynn, aged 41, labourer, who received fatal injuries when he was struck by a fall of rock in a trench alongside this Waterfront Road near Mission Bay on May 30. Deceased, who was a widower with two children, had resided at 89, Asquith Avenue, Mount Albert.

A labourer, Herbert Coolan, deposed that he had been digging in the trench with accused. It was sft. deep and 2ft. wido at the top. Witness saw the slip occur' and a piece of rock strike Flynn, pinning him to the side of the trench. There was no time to warn Flynn. There was no timbering" in the trench, which appeared solid, witness being satisfied to work in it. There was nothing to show that any portion was dangerous. Similar evidence was given by another labourer, Reginald Mitchell, who said he had seen nothing in the formation of the ground to make him think the trench was dangerous. The foreman, Hector R. MacKenzie, said he had visited the trench half an hour before the accident. He. saw nothing to indicate any possibility of a fall. A water main obscured the fault which later developed. Medical evidence was given showing that death was due to shock.