FALL ON SHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22538, 1 October 1936, Page 16

FALL ON SHIP

DEATH OF SEAMAN CHAIR IMPROPERLY ' RIGGED VERDICT AT THE INQUEST How John Laine, a Finnish seaman, aged 44, came to fall from a boatswain's chair while engaged in painting the ventilator of the steamer Kaikorai at the Central Wharf on September 25, was explained at an inquest into his death held by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. coroner, yesterday. Laine died in the Auckland Hospital on September 26, having fractured his left leg and ribs. Sergeant Thompson conducted the case for the police, and Mr. R. McVengh appeared for the Union Steam Ship Company, owners of the vessel.

William Arneil, boatswain of the Kaikorai, said ho had instructed Laine to paint the ventilator. He saw him rig a boatswain's chair, which he had been using for two before while painting 'tho funnel. To rig tho chair it

.was necessary to shackle it to the funnel stay. Laine did this, inserting the shackle in the knot called a fisherman's bend. Correct Way of Fastening

Witness added that he had questioned the manner in which this was done, as in his opinion it was not correct. Laine said that every man tied his own knot, and it was quito satisfactory his way. The gantline was secured to the chair by the fisherman's bend knot, and then run through a funnel block by means of which tho chair was hauled up the funnel stay. Witness assisted to haul Laine up, and then instructed a seaman to stand by the gantline. He heard 'a fall and saw deceased lying on the top of the iiddley at the port side of the funnel.

The correct way to fasten the shackle was to put it round the stay, and then on to the rope of the chair, continued witness. Laine would still have been fastened to the stay whatever happened.'What he did was to put the shackle round the stay, and then through the fisherman's bend knot with the result that the knot pulled undone with the swaying and the weight of the man, causing the chair to fall. A Very Heavy Man

Evidence wds ftlso given by two able seamen, who were present when the accidenf, occurred, and the master of the vessel, ' William Whitfield, who stated that deceased was a heavy man, and his. weight caused the shackle to pull the bend adrift.

Medical evidence was given that the cause of Laine's death was heart failure and acute pulmonary oedema following a fractured left leg and ribs. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned by the coroner, who stated that Laine's injuries had been caused by his accidentally falling while painting, the accident being caused by deceased rigging his chair in an improper manner.