TRAGIC COINCIDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1931, Page 9

TRAGIC COINCIDENCE

DEATH BY ELECTRIC SHOCK. FATHER ATTEMPTS RESCUE. A tragic coincidence attciiding the death by electrocution of Miss Audrey Stroud, aged 24, at Bondi, Sydney, during the sevve storm of July 6, was that tho young woman’s father attempted to rescue her without ■ knowing her identitv. Another sad feature was that her mother advised her to return home by way of Ramsgate Avenue, and not by hex’ usual route along Brighton Boxxlevarde. While she was walking dowxx Ramsgate Avenue the girl encountered a live wire, which killed her. instantlyGiving evidence at the inquest William John Stroud, of Bondi, said that when his daughter failed .to return-home by 9.45 p.m., he drove his motor-car to the northern end of Bondi beach, where a youn<r man, Basil Turnei’, ran to Ins car and said: “Have you any rubber o-lovcs? There is a wire down xn the street and somebody has been killed. Have yoxx seen the ambulance?’ Witness said he saw a woman by the lights of the ambulance car. She was lying on the footpath with a wire swayin«r across her body. He seized her by are arm, but his hand slipped. His second attempt was successful, and the woman was dragged clear. Not xxntxl then did he recognise her as his daughter. Constable Francis Gilmore, of Bondi, said he saw Miss Stroud’s body lying on the footpath. A wire from a broken electric overhead main was resting on her left arm. , Dr Palmer said that both arms were burnt and blistered by electricity, which had caused death. A verdict of accidental death was returned. *