SNOWFALL TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 5

SNOWFALL TRAGEDY

FALL THROUGH SKYLIGHT VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH ■ « • / A verdict of accidental death was returned at the inquest held yesterday morning into the death of William Cooper, a single man, aged. 36 years of age, who fell through a skylight while engaged in clearing the snow from the roof of the premises of W. Penrose and Co., Ltd., in George street, on July 27. Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., sat as coroner, and Sergeant Hogg conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police, Mr C. Br Barrowclough represented the relatives of the deceased,, Mr C. J. Rawlinson appeared for the. deceased's employers,, the Love Construction Company, and Mr A. C. W. Bristow represented the Labour Department. Dr A. G. Gilchrist, casualty officer at the Dunedin Hospital, said that he examined the deceased when he was admitted to the hospital and could find no signs of life. A cardiac stimulant was injected/but without result. In his opinion death was due to a fracture of the base of the skull. '

Robert-John Love, a foreman employed by the Love- Construction. Company, said that on .July 27, accompanied by the deceased, who was a foreman painter employed by the same: company, he went on to the roof of Penrose's premises to effect repairs to a skylight. At 1 p.m. he and the deceased were on the "roof examining the skylight, which was. on a pitched roof of fairly steep grade; The snow was firm. The skylight was cleared, and the deceased was sitting on the edge of the skylight while they decided what repairs were required. Witness turned. away to commence the descent from the roof when he heard a crash, and on looking back saw that the deceased had fallen through to the floor about 30 feet below.. The skylight was six feet long by two feet wide. In witness's opinion the deceased had slipped. The deceased was used to working on roofs, and in witness's opinion there were no extraordinary risks in. climbing on to that particular roof in the circumstances.

To Mr Barrowclough, witness said that the deceased was at the side of the skylight in a kneeling position. To Mr Rawlinson witness stated that he was above the deceased when the accident happened. The skylight and the surface of the roof surrounding it had been cleared of snow by the deceased and himself. 'The skylight was raised about four inches above the level of the roof. The deceased had a long experience of working on roofs. Cedric Carter, an employee of Penrose and Co., Ltd., said that at about 1 p.m. on July 27 he was walking from the mercery to the clothing department of the shop when he heard a crash and as he turned round he saw the body of a man fall on the floor from the skylight above. The injured man was bleeding profusely, and ah ambulance was. summoned to remove him to the hospital. Alfred Charles Wilton Bristow, inspector of scaffolding, said that he examined the skyiight on the following day and was of the opinion that the roof was a safe one upon which to work in ordinary circumstances. He did not consider that the deceased was taking any undue risks in climbing on. the roof, and no special precautions should have, been necessary.. The coroner said that the evidence, showed that apparently 'necessarywork was being on the roof, arid that the deceased was an-, experienced rhan. but by some means he slipped and fell through the skylight.- He found that .the deceased died on July 27 from a fractured skull received when he accidentally fell through a skylight' on the premises of W. Penrose and Co., Ltd., while engaged in his normal occupation.