INQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 18

INQUEST.

DEATH <JF JOHN CURROR. Mr Bartholomew, S.M., held an inquest on Monday afternoon at Port Chalmers* touching the death of John Curror, boilermaker, who was crushed in the crank-pit of a steamer at Port Chalmers on Friday, 25th ult., and died as a result of the injuries on Sunday, in the Cottage Hospital. William Henry Kemp, metal worker's assistant, stated that he was working with deceased when the accident occurred. Deceased told witness that the engineer wanted to straighten a bent guarcfcplate at the crank-pit, and witness went into the crankpit, removed the set pins, and straightened the guard-plate. Deceased went into 'the crank-pit to put the set pins in again and replace the guard-plate. As soon as deceased went into the pit witness noticed the crank begin to move downwards. Witness, on noting this movement, immediately grabbed Curror by .the shoulders, dragging him out of the cranli-pit and on to the engine-room floor. There was not sufficient clearance in the crank-pit for the crank to pass without striking Curror; and Curror was consequently crushed by the crank before witness caught him. It Avas only a matter of a second or so between the time when witness noticed the crank move and the time it crushed deceased. was very little room in the pit when the crank was down, and witness did not know what caused it .to move downwards in this case. The crank had for fully 15 minutes before Curror wfent into the pit. ' Dr W. H. Borrie gave evidence that the cause "•of death was inflammation of the lungs and collapee, following' severe bruising of the chest and lungs. Thomas Chalmers Cordock, works manager of 'the Port Chalmers marine repair works of the Union Company, said that if the second engineer told deceased to straighten the guard-plate it was right that deceased should do so, but an engineer would not tell a man, 'to go into the crankpit. If deceased was sent into the pit the gear should have been put m to ensure safety, by preventing the crank shaft from turning. In all his experience witness' had not known of a similar accident. The coroner said it was quite evident now that the turning gear should have been put in when such work was done. The formal verdict was in accordance with the medical evidence—that death was due ±o inflammation and collapse following severe bruising of 'tho chest and lungs.