FALL FROM BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 11

FALL FROM BRIDGE

DEATH BY DROWNING EFFORT TO AVOID TRAIN INQUEST HELD AT TAURANGA [n Y T1:1. KG It Al> H —(lW N CO 11 RES PON I) UNT] TA URAX (I A, AYpil nesd h y Aii inquest into tho death of Charles William Hana, who lost his life on Monday last through falling from the railway bridge, was held this morning he fori* .Mr. (J. T. MiT'arlane, coroner. Jack Leonard Astill, a visitor from Wellington, said that while washing down his boat at the yacht clubhouse he was watching a train crossing the railway bridge and noticed it slowing down. He saw a man step down from the centre of the bridge on to tlie steel supports. He was hanging on to the side of the bridge, but lost his balance and fell into the water. He appeared to lie avoiding the oncoming train. Witness and 13. Sneddon got a dinghy and rowed out to the man. When they reached him lie was floating face down and was unconscious. As soon as they got him into the boat witness commenced attempts to revive him and, after reaching the beach, several other men gave first-aid. Dr. J. Mark said that when he arrived Haua was being treated by artificial respiration applied by several men. Haua was very blue and witness could just feel his pulse at the wrist. This soon disappeared, and he died soon after witness' arrival. Artificial respiration was kept going for some time afterward. Deceased had a bruise on the right side of his forehead and also on the bridge of his nose, but did not seem to have any serious injuries. Tho cause of death was drowning. The coroner returned a verdict that death was duo to drowning.