SUDDEN COLLAPSE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17837, 21 July 1932, Page 3

SUDDEN COLLAPSE

MR. POLLOCK’S DEATH INQUEST HELD. This morning the district coroner, Mr. B. H. Harper, S.AI., conducted an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Andrew Nelson Bollock, 01, which occurred suddenly yesterday morning at the municipal works on Tauihata Hill. Constable AL. Brady represented the police, and Air. E. T. Brosnalian appeared for the relatives of the deceased, while Air. J. >S. Wain hop represented the employers.

James G haver stated that he ,accompanied the deceased to the work on Taumata Hill yesterday morning, and while they were climbing the hill the deceased had to rest two or three times. He said ho did not like climbing the hill, as it affected his legs. At about 7.40 a.m. Pollock collapsed and died.

I u reply 1o Mr. Erosnahnn witness staled that the deceased collapsed before they reached the top of. the hill, lie was not carrying any thing wit. a him. Yesterday was the first time witness had walked up the Hill with the deceased, who had not pre\ i.ously complained to him of heart trouble. Dr. lb M. omin, who perlormed a post mortem examination yesterday, stated that in bis opinion don 111 was due to heart failure, caused by the fact that the heart was abnormal and the respiratory organs were impaired. Death could have been caused by pndue exertion acting upon a woa x U lu' reiilv to Mr Brosnahaii, witness stated that had the deceased not gone through extraordinary exertion it wns 'possible that he might have lived ini !, number of years, hut the strain or ills ordinary everyday life, without undue exertion, might have caused lus death with the organs in that condition. The chances were that lie would have lived longer if he had not taxed his heart beyond a certain point. To Mr. Waucliop, witness stated that had tho deceased climbed a ilight of stairs his death might have occurred in just the same way. Assuming that he'could have diagnosed the. deceased s condition prior to his death witness would have ordered him not to undertake any heavy work. IDs condition was a chronic one, ami had been going on for a great many years. Mrs Mai v Ann Pollock, widow of the deceased, stated Dial the deceased left honm at about (>.."<> n.m. yesterday to go to work, after having a good breakfast. Witness had remarked hew well he had looked recently, and |h» had not complained oi disaldlity; he had not been attended by a doctor for three years. Thomas Ilaisnuin gave formal e\idenco of the removal of the body. 'The coroner found that death was due to heart failure caused by undue exertion on a. heart that was not normal.

The coroner expressed his sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.