NURSE BURNED TO DEATH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21181, 31 October 1938, Page 8

NURSE BURNED TO DEATH

TRAGEDY AT NELSON HOSPITAL

Victim Former Timaru Resident

Fifteen Nurses Trapped by Flames Several Injured Jumping To Safety B.v Telegraph —Press Association NELSON, October 30. One nurse was burned to death and five others suffered shock and injuries through jumping from the upper storey windows when the Nurses’ Home extension building, near the Main Nurses’ Home, Nelson Public Hospital, was totally destroyed by fire at 2 o’clock this morning. Fifteen nurses were in the building. There was no warning that the home was on fire until some of the inmates were awakened by the flames which filled the corridors and cut off any means of escape by two staircases. One nurse, who was apparently suffocated while sleeping, was burned to death in her bed. She was: Nurse Harry Rothwell, aged 22 years, of Orari, near Geraldine. Others who suffered injury were: Sister M. Beardsley,, moderately severej burns to her face and arms, and shock. Sister E. W. Wilson, shock, slight burns and strained back. Nurse J. Cook, shock and abrasions. Sister O’Gill, fracture of a small bone in the foot. Sister V. Males, shock and abrasions. The building was nearly enveloped in flames when the Nelson Fire Brigade arrived al, 1.57 a.m., two minutes after it received the alar . at the station. Evidently the flames had a strong hold in the building before they were noticed, and the nurses who were sleeping upstairs were trapped. Motorist Notices Flames

A man who drove past the building in his car noticed nothing uptoward, but when going over a slight rise in the road only 150 yards away from the building he saw flames reflected in the rear vision mirror. He . stopped and saw flames at the southern end of the building, and before he had run back half the distance the flames were coming out of the windows along the whole length of the home, and all parts of the building were aflame. The motorist saw nurses running out of the front entrance. There were several screams, but nothing of what could be described as panic. A fire escape from one room on the northern side of the front entrance was thrown out of la window, and a number of nurses made their exit by that means. Other nurses jumped from their bedroom windows, a distance of 20 feet, to the lawns, suffering heavy falls. Fire Develops Rapidly The motorist, interviewed by a Nelson ‘‘Mall’’ reporter, said that when he reached the building from his car. only 150 yards away, the fire had such a strong hold that it was impossible for anyone to enter the building. That was before the arrival of the Fire Brigade. How so many of the nurses escaped was a miracle to him. "I’ve been puzzled how the flames burst out so quickly from all parts of the building,” he said. Nurse Rothwell had been training at the Nelson Hospital for the past three and a-half years. Her mother, Mrs J. Tavener, resides at Summerton, Belfield. Orari, near Geraldine.

As soon as a search was possible. Nurse Rothwell’s body was found on the wire mattress of the bed In her room in the upper storey of tlie building. The building, which was of wood covered with roughcast, contained a sitting room, 25 bedrooms, Ironing room, conveniences and boiler room for the central heating system under the building. Each room was provided with a flexible iron fire escape ladder. Inquest Opened At the inquest, which was opened and adjourned, Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., Coroner, was satisfied that the charred remains were those of Nurse Harry Rothwell. Dr. P. C. E. Brunette. Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, said that the body was recovered from the building at approximately 5 a.m. on Sunday. The body, which was charred beyond recognition, was lying on the wire mattress of the bed In the room usually occupied by Nurse Rothwell. She was the only nurse who usually slept in the building who was not accounted for.

Nurse Joan Alice Smith said that she had slept in the building until she was called at 12.15 a.m. Al 10.35 o’clock the previous evening Nurse Rothwell had been in witness’s room talking to her. Deceased’s room was next to witness’s, and deceased left intending to go to bed. Miss Harry Rothwell was well-known in Timaru. She was one of the first pupils of the Timaru Girls’ High School Preparatory Department, and after completing her education in the secondary school she left for Nelson to commence her nursing training. During her long association with the School Miss Rothwell made many friends, who will learn of her tragic death was sincere regret.