YOUTH THROWN FROM HORSE

Southland Times, Issue 23345, 1 November 1937, Page 8

YOUTH THROWN FROM HORSE

FATAL ACCIDENT AT WAIPAHI INQUEST HELD ON FARM A boy aged 14 years, John Alexander Faulks, a son of Mr J. McKay Faulks, of Waipahi, received fatal injuries when he fell from a horse on his father’s farm on Saturday evening. The horse had apparently stumbled and the boy had been thrown on to his head. He was discovered by his brother about six o’clock and died shortly afterwards. An inquest was conducted by the district coroner (Mr Andrew Martin) on the farm yesterday. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence that death was caused by a fracture of the base of the skull. Jack McKay Faulks, father of the boy, gave evidence of identification and said that he had just arrived home when his other son, Stewart, called to him saying that John was lying on the road hurt. “I ran out and found him lying face downwards about half a chain from the house,” said witness. “I picked him up and carried him inside. He, was severely injured about the head.” Witness said that he telephoned Dr J. M. Watters, of Gore, who arrived about 6.40 p.m. The accident had occurred about 6 o’clock. It was his son’s custom to ride round the sheep every evening. He had just returned on Saturday evening, and on nearing the stable his horse must have stumbled, throwing him off. His son Stewart had been in the stable unsaddling his horse and when he had walked round the corner of the stable he had noticed John lying on the ground bleeding from head and face. He had called witness at once. “I could see he was severely injured,” said witness. The boy had been in good health and was a good rider. The horse he had been riding was a quiet one. “I think the horse must have stumbled and that the boy was thrown on to his head,” said witness.

Duncan Stewart Faulks, a younger son of the previous witness, said that he had just unsaddled his horse and had been going into the house when he saw his brother’s horse without a rider. He had walked round the corner of the stable and noticed his brother lying on the ground about half a chain away. He then called his father, who carried his brother into the house. Dr J. M. Watters, of Gore, in giving evidence said that he had arrived at the residence, Waipahi, at about 6.40 p.m. On examining the body he found that life was extinct. There were abrasions on the left side of the face and bruises around about the left eye. Blood was trickling from the nose and the right ear. In his opinion death was due to a fracture of the base of the skull. The coroner returned the verdict as stated.