SUDDEN DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16314, 22 February 1915, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH

MR ROYD GARLICK. (Pr.ti iWiTv-n Pkkss Association CHRISTCHURCH, February 21. Mr Royd Garlick (Director of Physical Culture to the Education Department) died on the West Coast train yesterday afternoon. An inquest was held this afternoon before Mr H. W. Bishop (district coroner). Herbert Edgar Longworth, inspector and teacher of physical education under the Education Department, gave evidence that he had known the deceased for two years. The deceased was married, and lived in Wellington. He left Christchurch for the West Coast on Thursday, and witness joined him at Greymouth on Thursday evening. They left Greymouth on their return to Christchurch on Saturday morning. The deceased was then in his usual good state of health. They came by train to Otira. At Otira they boarded one of the coaches, and travelled for some distance. At the foot of the big hill witness left the coach, and walked to the top, and was followed soon after by Mr Garlick and another gentleman. He had been at the top of the hill for about five minutes waiting for the coach when Mr Garlkk came up and remarked on the splendid walk he had had. Mr Garlick then took out his camera and took a picture of the approaching coach. All except Mr Garlick then boarded the coach, but Mr Garlick ran ahead to get another photograph of the full coach, and then boarded it. Mr Garlick ran about 20 yards altogether. At Arthur's Pass, where the party stopped for lunch, witness noticed nothing unusual with Mr Garlick. Witness went for a walk after lunch, and on returning was informed that Mr Garlick was unwell. Mr Garlick told him he thought he had got a chill, and complained of a pain in the back. In the train Mr Garlick was made as comfortable as possible by Mrs Garlick. Witness visited him occasionally during the journev, and Mr Garlick said he was feeling a 'lot better; in fact, he sat up and started to read a paper. A few minutes afterwards Mr Garlick evidently experienced a sudden seizure, as he looked very ill and had difficulty in breathing. They lifted him off the seat on to the floor of the carriage, but he expired within five minutes. Stimulants were given, and artificial respiration was tried, but it was no good. Witness always regarded Mr Garlick as a strong, healthy man. He had lost weight, however, during the last 12 months. The deceased was 44 years of age. Witness added that he could not say whether Mr Garlick ate anything at Arthur's Pass.

TJr Sandstein, who made a post mortem examination of the body, said there were no external marks of injury or disease. The body was that of a thin, spare man. The stomach contained about lOoz of fluid, smelling of alcohol. The stomach, intestines, and other abdominal organs were healthy, with the exception of the right kidnev. which was somewhat enlarged. The lungs showed slight congestion, but were otherwise healthy. The heart was small and nowise hypertrophied such as would be expected in a physical instructor. The tricuspid valve was thickened, and there was some aortic atheroma in the earlv staee. The brain was healthy. He considered that death was due to cardiac hernia consequent upon precedent exerti^"S.

Tie Coroner: He practically had incipient heart disease. Witness: I think he must have been failing in health for some time. I think his profession was too much for him. He had no special muscular development.

A verdict was returned that death was due to cardiac failure.