WORKER KILLED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21308, 30 March 1939, Page 6

WORKER KILLED

BURIED UNDER FALL OF MANURE By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, March 29. Buried under several tons of superphosphate at the Westfield chemical manure works of Kempthorne Prosser and Co., Limited, an employee received injuries from which he died shortly afterwards. The victim was John Abraham Burgess, aged about 50, married, of Papakura. Speedy rescue work by several of Burgess’s workmates prevented him from being suffocated, but he was crushed about the chest by the weight of the material. The mishap occurred about 1.30 p.m. Burgess, who was employed as a labourer in the superphosphate shed, was engaged in operating the rotary loading mechanical plant. The mechanism, which operates in somewhat similar fashion to a harbour dredge, is utilised to convey superphosphate to the loading hoppers. A conveyor scoops the material from the face of a large stack of artificial manure.

Burgess was shovelling loose material close to the face of the stack when several tons rolled down from the top like an avalanche and completely buried him. Strenuous work by several other employees uncovered Burgess within less than a minute and he was extricated in a semi-conscious condition. Artificial respiration treatment restored him to consciousness. He was sent to the Auckland Hospital in an ambulance, but he died before reaching the institution.