MOTHER FATALLY BURNED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25277, 14 July 1943, Page 4

MOTHER FATALLY BURNED

CLOTHES CAUGHT FIRE (Air Mail) SYDNEY, July 6. Formerly a well-known Melbourne dancer and mannequin, Mrs Beverley Fenner, aged 21, was fatally burned in her flat at Elizabeth Bay, * Sydney, while bathing her five-months-oid baby, Victoria, in front of a radiator. Her dressing-gown caught fire, and she ran screaming from the flat. The baby was rescued from drowning by a neighbour.

Mrs L. Medcalf, who lives in the same block of flats as Mrs Fenner, ran to the door of Mrs Fenner's flat when she heard screams about 9 a.m. She found Mrs Fenner’s door locked, and she and another neighbour tried unsuccessfully to kick the door in. .‘‘A few seconds later Mrs Fenner opened the door and rushed into the hall,” Mrs Medcalf said. “Her clothes were alight, from head to foot. She rolled on the landing outside the flat, and we began to beat out, the flames. An. other neighbour obtained a blanket, which she threw over Mrs Fenner. This put the flames out.” Mrs Medcalf ran into the flat and found the baby with its face partly under water in the bath. Mrs Fenner shortly after her admission to. hospital. ■

Mrs Fenner’s husband, Lieutenant Tom Fenner, R.A.N., is a son of Dr Fenner, of Adelaide. He is at present at sea. Before her marriage, Mrs Fenner appeared as a dancer in J. C. Williamson / productions, including “Balalaika," “New Moon’’ and “Rose Marie.” • ..