DEATH OF BUSHMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22005, 11 January 1935, Page 11

DEATH OF BUSHMAN

STRUCK BY FALLING TREE EVIDENCE AT INQUEST [from our own correspondent] TE KUITI, Thursday A verdict of accidental death was returned to-day at the adjourned inquest concerning the death of Lance Carrington, aged 32, a married man, who was killed as the result of a tree-felling accident at Pukemako camp, about 15 miles from Mangapehi, on November 30.

Evidence was given by Henry Wilson, superintendent of logging operations, that Carrington, with another bushman named Peterson, was felling a rimu tree. Later, hearing there had been an accident, witness hastened to the spot, where he found Carrington lying dead. From the position in which the body was lying it was evident he had been trying to get out of the way of a falling limb and had received severe injuries to the head. He was an experienced bushman and every precaution seemed to have been taken when felling the tree. Alexander Calderwood Peterson said the tree fell in the direction intended. Looking up, deceased and witness observed the head of the falling tree was about to strike a branch of a matai behind it. Both immediately began to run from the stump down a clear space, shoulder to shoulder. " We Avcre both knocked down by a falling limb," continued witness. " When I came round I saw Carrington lying four feet from me. He did not answer my call. I got up and put my arm under him, when I Baw a large wound on top of his head, which was bleeding freely. I managed to get to the edge of*the bush and call for assistance."