ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22052, 7 September 1933, Page 10

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

DEATH OF A SEAMAN FALL PROM PORESTAY OP VESSEL (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 6. An inquest was held to-day concerning the death of Ernest Richardson, aged 25, an able seaman who fell from the forestay of the Port Premantle in Cook Strait last Thursday. The third officer of the Government steamer Matai said he saw through glasses from his ship a dark object halfway up the forestay of the Port Fremantle, which was two miles away from the Matai. He saw the man fall. He could not say whether the man was in the bosun’s chair or not. Evidence was given regarding the Port Fremantle being towed to sea, and the opinion was expressed that it was possible the accident occurred while Richardson was preparing to put up a sail to assist in the steering of the Port Fremantle. Captain Hall, superintendent of marine, said ordinarily he would hold an inquiry into an accident, but because there were no witnesses available he would send particulars to the Board of Trade, which would hold on inquiry in Loudon or possibly at Sydney. It was not usual to send a man on the forestuy without the adequate protection of (he bosun’s chair or gantline. The coroner found that Richardson died on September 1 from injuries received through accidentally falling from the forestay to the deck of the Port Fremantle in Cook Strait the previous day. A FATAL FALL (Per United Press Association.) MASTERTON, September 6, Slipping on a rafter in the Martiaborough Picture Hall this afternoon William Blackwell, proprietor, a middleaged man, fell through the asbestos ceiling to the scats in the hall below and received fatal injuries, death occurring about two hours later. POWER BOARD WORKER’S DEATH CONTACT WITH LIVE WIRE. (Per United Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, September 6. The inquest on Stanhope Sherwill Smart, sub-station attendant in the employ of the Southland Electric Power Board, who died in hospital on Sunday following an electric shock, was held this afternoon before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.), as coroner. Donald M'Kenzie Scandrett, a faultsman, employed by the Power Board, stated that on Sunday morning he was on duty at the Herbert street substation, where the deceased was also working. That morning, at about 9.30 a.m., the power was cut off at the station, only the power for the Invercargill trams being left on. About 10 a.m. witness and the deceased were engaged in cleaning out birds’ nests from the choke coils, and at the time of the accident the deceased was working on a 11,000 volt “ bus bar,” about 12 feet above the ground. The attention of witness was attracted to the deceased by the roar of the power, and he turned round to see the deceased swinging on the 11,000 volt “ bus bar.” Witness was going towards him, but before he reached him the deceased fell to the ground. Witness thought Smart was dead, but he applied artificial respiration, and then rang for the doctor. Before the doctor arrived the deceased became conscious. He complained of pains in his stomach, but said nothing about the accident. Witness could not explain how the deceased came in contact with the live wire as his back was turned. The deceased was a very careful man, taking no risks with electricity. The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to heart failure following an extreme shock, accidently received, by the deceased in the course of his employment. BADLY CUT HAND A married man named Saba Ferry, aged 30 years, residing at 45 Patrick street, was admitted to the Hospital last evening shortly after C o’clock, suffering from a severely cut hand. He slipped in a passage at his homo, and put his hand through a mirror.