NIGHTDRESS IN FLAMES

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1933, Page 8

NIGHTDRESS IN FLAMES

CHILD’S DEATH FROM BURNS. STRIKING OF WAX MATCH. A. verdict of death from shock following extensive bums all over the body caused when his nightdress was accidentally ignited by a wax match was returned by the coroner, Mr. E. C. Levvey, at the inquest at Invercargill into the death of George . William Hugh Greener, a child of two years, son of Philip Dunan Greener, marine engineer, Bluff. Death occurred in the Southland hospital. Evidence was given by the child’s father and Dorothy Boyd, a Karitane nurse, of Greenhills, who had been in attendance on the child for two weeks prior to the fatality, that all four children were put to .bed shortly before seven o’clock on December 20, the one who was burned being in a room alone. Shortly after he had been put to bed a cry was heard and when the nurse went in she found the child standing in his’ cot with his clothing on fire. She wrapped a blanket round him and smothered the flames. Dr. Stewart was summoned and he ordered the child’s removal to the Southland hospital The child’s cot was fairly dose to the mantelpiece, upon which was a candle stick and a box of wax matches. Ordinarily the candle was left on the floor by a large bed in the same room. A closed box of matches was subsequently found* in the cot and there was evidence of a match having been struck, the head having stuck to the sandpaper on the box.