DEATH BY DROWNING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11255, 6 July 1922, Page 7

DEATH BY DROWNING

INQUEST ON CEORCESON RATS BARRED AND LIVES ENDANGERED. MUST BE GANGWAYS. The official inquiry concerning: death of John Ee*rge>on, a member of tho crew of s.s. Maintain. who wns drown on Mondnv evening through fallnip from a ‘‘Jacob’?* ladder” while attempting to hoard the vessel, was conducted morning by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M. THE FATAIj FALL. Sergeant Sweeney represented thi police, Mr J. F. B. Stevenson appeared on behalf of the Wellington Harbour Board. Mr T. W. Young watched proceedings for tlm Seamen’s Federation, and Mr W. E. Leicester represented tho Shaw, Savill and Albiou Shipping Company. Evidence was given by William Munden, another member of the crew, to tho effect that at 6.10 p.m. on Monday bo had gone ashore by moans of the pilot ladder and had passed the deceased ci> tho wharf. Georgeson then commenced to board the vessel by means of the same ladder, but when he had reached the last step he turned completely over and fell into the water. Munden had immediately jumped in after him and succeeded in supporting him until assistance aiv rived. was then lifted on to the wharf, where attempts to resuscitate him had failed. Dr H. C. Faulke stated that he had arrived at the scene of the mishap at about 6.30 p.m. He had tried artificial respiration without success. Death had been due to drowning.

LADDER AND WOODEN RUNGS. Arthur Jolin Cox, an able seaman on the Alatatua, deposed to having seen the deceased fall. Witness had also jumped in after Georgeson. The ladder from which deceased had fallen was made of rope and had flat wooden rungs. If replaced the gangway after sunset, and it was about «t or eight inches off the side of the vessel. The top lung was against the ship, everv man going aboard would have to climb over the companion ladder. Mr Abbott, chief officer of the Ms* tatua. stated that instructions had been issued for all gangways and nets to be taken down at sunset. The Coroner: A net, or some other means of safeguarding life, oould be left there without any fear of rata going ashore. Witness: The net oould be there, but there is nothing to prevent rats jumping ashore. Air Leicester: Have representations been made to the Department of Health regarding the taking away of the ladder ?

Witness: I have made them myself when the inspectors have come around. Air Leicester: I understand that the Shaw, Savill Company has now decided to leave the gangway up at night? Witness: Yea. Air Young: Quite right, too. In reply to Mr Young, witness said that when a man wished to coins aboard he had to signal to the watch to let down the ladder. It would he quite possiblo to follow out this practice with a properly constructed gangway. Sir Young: It appears to me that they were preventing rats coming ashore and sacrificing lives at Hie math* time. The Coroner: An alteration will probably be made as a result of this inquiry. The finding of the Coroner was that the deceased met his death through ao cidental drowning. REMARKS BY CORONER. “I want,” continued the CotnoueP) “first of all to commend the action of these two young men in promptly, jumping into the water to the assistance of the deceased. Secondly, I want to add this riders ‘Utah the Health Department be informed steps should be taken to prevent the recurrence of such an acctdent at ihm by permitting the lowering 'of a proper gangway on to the wharf, botfc day and night.* ” llhe Coroner added that he, ally, would convey the rider to thf Health Department. PROMPT ACTION TAKEN. Following the latter part of ib& Coroner's rider having been conveyed* to the Health Department a notioo! was issued on the waterfront last evedtyft ing to the effect that: “Gangways non- permitted (as from last pro. viding; they are suspended as high aaC possible by the ship’s when not in use and a watchman is provided when in use.”