STRUCK BY WALL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20898, 30 November 1937, Page 5

STRUCK BY WALL

WASHDYKE MAN’S DEATH At an inquest yesterday into the death last Wednesday of John Cassidy, aged 58, of Washdyke, the Coroner (Mr H. Morgan) found that deceased died of shock following multiple Injuries, death being accelerated by chronic kidney disease. On last Tuesday afternoon Cassidy was struck by part of a wall of a sod hut which was being demolished on his property and he died in the Timaru Public Hospital next morning. The widow, Suzan Elizabeth Cassidy, said that after lunch her husband went outside to work. Some time later she heard a cry for help and found him lying on the ground, his legs covered by part of the sod wall. There were some large pieces of the wall lying nearby. He said he had injured his stomach and had a cramp in one leg, but declined medical attention. When his condition did not improve, Dr. F. F. A. Ulrich was called and he ordered his removal to hospital. Witness said her husband had served in the South African War and had suffered malarial fever. He had had a weakness of the legs for the last 15 years. Demolishing Hut The sod hut was on the property, said Mrs Cassidy, and she herself had demolished a good deal of it in order to get out a window in the old building. Before that afternoon, her husband had not done any of the demolition and, as far as she was aware, did not intend to do any at the time of the accident. She thought he must have tripped over some of the parts which had been brought down and fallen on a large block of sod, hurting his stomach. When she came out a portion of the wall about four feet long and five feet high had come down. He was subject to falling turns on account of the weakness of his legs. Dr. F. A. Neate, of the Timaru Public Hospital, said death was due to shock consequent on multiple injuries, accelerated by chronic kidney disease. Deceased suffered fractures of the ribs, pelvis and right leg, the injuries being compatible with a sod wall having fallen on him. The Coroner said it seemed clear that deceased’s injuries were due to the wall falling on him and knocking him down. The verdict was in accordance with the medical evidence.