WORKER KILLED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23154, 28 September 1938, Page 14

WORKER KILLED

BLASTING ON HILLSIDE HIT BY FLYING ROCK SHOT'S UNUSUAL EFFECT RONGOTAI AERODROME JOB [MY TELEGRAPH —I'RESS ASSOCIATION*] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Struck by a flying rock when a shot tired'on the Moa Point works nt Lyall Hay this afternoon li'ad an unexpected result, a worker received severe head injuries, from which he died in hospital a little over an hour later, and several other men received minor injuries not sufficient to require special attention. The victim, was: — Mr. Frederick Charles Llddy, aged 47, married, 58 Breaker Bay Koad, Wellington. Mr. Liddy was one of 40 men employed by the Wellington City Council on the work of taking the top off the point as an improvement to the Hongotai aerodrome. Near by rock, which varies in character from grey Btone to rotten rock of the most friable character, is being loosened with explosjves, loaded into motor-trucks and used to cover sand at the exhibition site. Farthest away from Shot The victim was struck by a piece of rock blown out of the hillside by a shot. He was about 200 ft. away from the explosion, the farthest of all the workmen on the job. The apparent safety of his position was added to by the facts that the hill in which the explosive had been inserted faced away from him and a power shovel was between him and the charge. The shot is believed to have been normal, except that the energy of the explosive, instead of being expended entirely in loosening and bringing down the rock, as had been intended, hurled some rock into the air in an unexpected direction. A warning whistle had been given and the workmen had retired to a distance that was thought safe or taken cover before the shot was fired. Usual Charge Used The accident happened about 1.15 p.m. Mr. Liddy was hurried to hospital by ambulance, being admitted at 1.35. He died at 2.25. Work has been proceeding for several years at Moa Point without such a mishap occurring before. Large charges are not usual and to-day's is stated to have'been no greater than is customary. It is the second blasting accident close to Wellington in eight days, two men being buried and killed by a premature explosion on the Public Works Department's Ngahauranga Gorge Works on September 19.