FELL INTO FIRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20784, 20 July 1937, Page 9

FELL INTO FIRE

DEATH OF PLEASANT POINT RESIDENT The inquest into the death of John Jones, aged 93, of Pleasant Point, was concluded yesterday before the Coroner (Mr H. Morgan), who brought in the following verdict: —“That deceased was burnt to death at his residence at Dominion Road, Pleasant Point, on July 16, when, being alone, lie fell across a fire built in a bucket on the floor of a shed, before which he had been sitting, and was unable to rise, his fall being due probably to a heart seizure.”

Rebecca Gudsell, daughter of deceased, said that he was a widower and had resided with her. It was his habit to read the newspaper in a shed at the bottom of the section. On cold days he would light a wood and coal fire in a bucket which had no bottom. Deceased’s general state of health had been good, but he was getting feeble and his legs were failing him. John Henry Simmons, a schoolboy of 17 years, said that he noticed some smoke coming from the shed at 4.45 p.m. Looking in, he saw deceased lying over the fire, his clothes burning. Wltnesss went for assistance.

John Thomas Lowe, lorry driver, of Pleasant Point, stated that he threw a bucket of water on the fire after being informed of the previous witness’s discovery.

Constable L. Pont, of Pleasant Point, said that the circumstances were consistent with deceased having had a sudden seizure or tripped and fallen across the fire bucket and been stunned by the blow on his head when falling.

Dr. C. A. Paterson, of Timaru, who was called to the scene, stated that in his opinion deceased had not struggled. Considering his age, the position of the body, and the fact that he had not struggled, witness would say that his fall would be consistent with a seizure, due probably to a heart attack.