FATAL SNAKE BITE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1924, Page 3

FATAL SNAKE BITE.

YOUNG WOMAN’S DEATH. SAD END TO MOTORING PARTY. The visit, of a motoring party to French’s Forest, New South Wales, on August 24, had a tragic ending, in the death of Miss Hazel Ward, aged 21, daughter of Mr. C. R. Ward. She died the following morning from the bite of a snake, which, on being killed, was found to measure about 4ft in length, and to be almost as thick round the body as the wrist of an adutt. The party, which had gone to French’s Forest to collect wild flowers, included Miss Ward, her mother and father, her brother, and l Mr. R. W. Rowley. Mr. Rowley remained in the car while the others went gathering flowers. After about a quarter of an hour he was joined in the car by Miss Ward’s father and brother. Screams were heard, and the three of them raced down to t'he spot, and found Miss Ward. In order not to alarm her mother and the other members of the party. Miss Ward whispered to Mr. Rowley that she thought she had been bitten by a snake, and asked to be assisted to the car. 'Such was the case, unfortunately’. She had been bitten on the ankle by a large snake, which was starched for and killed by her brother.

Mr. Rowley, who had just completed his final university course in pharmacy, rendered first aid, and Miss Ward was conveyed to a doctor, who. after' treatment, ordered her removal to a hospital, j where she died early the following morning