ACT OF SPLENDID HEROISM

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1930, Page 7

ACT OF SPLENDID HEROISM

DEATH OF LANCE GIBSON INQUIRY INTO ESMONT TRAGEDY ■ 1 i— COMMENDATION BY CORONER* “The taking of risks is a characteristic of the British face and I hope that characteristic will never disappear, but at the same time every precaution, should be taken to see that any risk is reduced to a .minimum. I am therefore glad to see that the Egmont Na? tional Park Board and the mountain clubs are making an effort to render climbing on Mount Egmont more Safe. Gibson’s act was one of splendid heroism and self sacrifice—such a one that when time has helped to erase the painful memory of his death his relatives will look back upon his action with pride.” Such was the comment, of. the coroner (Mr. W. L. Kennedy) at; the inquest at Stratford yesterday into the circumstances that led to the death of Lance Vernon Gibson, of Stratford, on Mount Egmont on August 4. The verdict was that the cause of death had been heart failure following cold and exposure. * “Under the circumstances I am sure that every thing that could be done to prolong his life was done," added Mr. Kennedy. ‘ > Andrew Haldane, ' caretaker, of tha Stratford Mountain" House, stated that at about 3 p.m. on. Sunday,. August 3, he left the house in company with Sam-, uel Taggart, of the Public Works Department, to render assistance to Walter J. Hall; who had been injured on the mountain. When they left |he ’house they had no idea when they would re< turn. On the way' they' met Gibson, who volunteered to ’ accompany them.. As far as witness knew Gibson had been ; on the mountain all day. Witness-knew him for an experienced climber, but as they progressed Gibson to be tiring. The three men met-a’ party, bringing Hall to the . Stratford house, but witness advised'them that' it was impossible to get Hall to the Stratford house and that .it would be better to take him to the North Egmont house. Haldane and Taggart. intimated. that they would go on to North. Egmont to get assistance and Gibson said he would accompany them,. At that time it was becoming dark. , • Half an hour after the three men left the relief, party .with .Hall. .Gibson ..became exhausted. Realising that the only , way to save Gibson was to get him into the shelter of the bush Haldane left the ■ track and made/for the .bush. They did not reach the bush but managed to get to the scrub, where they stayed the night. ; - Except for the fact that lie was wearing shorts Gibson was more warmly clad than the other. two. The latter tried to keep him on his feet but were unable to do so. All the time there was a driving snow storm. ■■■-. The .three men stayed in the improvised shelter ’ till 6 a.in. on Monday, when they started on the trip to North Egmont, -witness and Taggart assisting Gibson. After stumbling along for a few yards Gibson collapsed and died. For some hours prior to his death all he „ seemed to want to do was sleep. The only thing the remaining two could do was to go on to North Egmont,"where they arrived just before 11. a.m. As a result of the exposure witness and Taggart were frost bitten about the hands and feet. A party was dispatched to recover the body. Under the conditions that had obtained that night there had been no hope bf getting Gibson out alive. ' . Samuel Taggart, a Public Works foreman working on the Stratford'Mountain House road, told a similar story. 1 ,