ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20191, 31 August 1927, Page 6

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

DEATH CAUSED BY CHOKING. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 29. White eating dinner yesterday afternoon Alexander George Wheeler, of the New North road, Moruingside, was choked to death by a piece of meat. Wheeler was a widower. He was having his dinner with his family at about 1.15 p.m., when a piece of meat stuck in his throat, and before it could be taken out he had choked. Nothing could be done when tho doctor was called. A DROWNING AC' )ENT. (Per United Press Association.) HAMILTON, August 30. A boating fatality occurred at Rangiriri yesterday, when Joseph Darby, a farm hand employed at Rangiriri, was drowned. Darby was rowing on the Waikato River, and when near the Rangiriri Bridge he stood up and over-balanced and fell out of the boat. He swam for a few minutes, and his companions tried to reach him, but before they could do so he disappeared. The body has not been found. f DIED WHILST DANC’NG. (Per United Press Association.) GISBORNE, August 30. At the inquest on the body of Frederick Peter Drube, who died whilst dancing at Makuri School on Friday night, the medical evidence stated that a d mortem disclosed a rupture of the right ventricle of the heart muscle, which was degenerated. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned. MOTOR CYCLE FATALITY. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, August SO. Early yesterday morning Alexander Edmond Forbes, 20 years of age, residing at 211 Opawa road, died in C' ristchurch Hospital from injuries received through the tyre of a motor cycle bursting while pillion riding. Another young man, W. H. Fielding, was riding the motor cycle carrying Forbes behind a motor lorry driven by Ivan Hadfield. In endeavouring to avoid a collision Fielding swerved, and one of the tyres of the cycle burst, throwing Forbes beneath the machine. He was taken ,to hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. ACCIDENTALLY STRANGLED. YOUTH’S TERRIBLE FATE. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 30. This afternoon Val Armstrong, agecl 1(5, the youngest son of Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P., was accidentally strangled. It is stated that he was mending a bicycle hanging in the washhouse at his parents’ residence when he slipped off the box on ■which he ’was standidg. His head was caught in l a rope, and be died before his plight was discovered. FOUND DROWNED. Ah inquest was held this afternoon on the body of a man found washed ashore at Toetoes Bay, near Fortrose, on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Thomas Meighan, a greaser on the steamship lonic. He was a native of England, and was last seen alive at Bluff on July 15. A verdict of found -drowned was returned. A SUDDEN DEATH, A well-known resident’of Temuka, Mr Edwin Wilks, a retired farmer, living with his wife at King street north, Temuka, dropped dead on his property soon after 9 o’clock on Monday morning. Mr Wilks rose early as usual, and seemed to be in excellent health. He had breakfast and read the paper until about 9 a.m., when he yoked a horse to a small plough and went to a paddock adjoining the house. Mr Wilks ploughed for about a quarter of an hour, and then -wo neighbours, Mr Arthur Stokes and his father, who were in the paddock with him, saw him stagger slightly and f ’’ face downwards to the earth. They rushed to his assistance, but Mr Wilks expired almost immediately. It is understood that an inquest will not be considered necessary, as a medical certificate as to the cause of death will be forthcoming. ' The Hospital authorities reported last night that the condition of Mr Paterson, who received severe injuries as the result of a motor car accident in the city early on Sunday morning, ; shows an improvement.