BROKE HIS NECK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12065, 21 July 1917, Page 7

BROKE HIS NECK.

INQUEST ON.. COAL-TRIMMEE. An inquest wa» held this morning at Xyttelton on the body of Frank vHoffnan, a trimmer engaged on a ship now in port, who fell from tho gangway to the, wharf and was killed. • CharleS Bedbrook, a quartermaster in the vessel, gave evidence that - tho deceased was a member of the ship's crew. Witness ftated that lie was on duty at 6 p.m. by the gangway when he saw deceased approaching the vessel along the wharf. He noticed him climbing up tho gangway. The deceased when half way up the gangway leaned forward - to grasp tha guard tope, which ho missed, and fe'l back otf the gangway to the wharf. Witness, in'company with the ship's cap« lain, immediately* went down the- gangway and removed deceased- irorn tho edge of the wharf. Witness considered that the deceased fell a distance of loft or 20ft. Hoffman was hi a state of intoxication, and no ofce but himself was ,to blame for the accident. Iho gangway was the same ag used at other portsj nnd he had heard no complaints about it being unsafe. John Wilson, captain of the ressfl. identified the bot?y as that of Frank I Hoffman, who had joined the vessel i as trimmer. He did not know whether deceased was married. The gangway! was quite secure ar.d tho rop*s v. ere j properly tightened. I Constable Lloyd gave evidence to :he ! effect that he examined the gangway last night and found it i:; £„, v! ord'-r and quite snie. T>r C. H. U pi- sir. who had examined ~<ha body, told ; that the -man's was broken. • j .The Coroner returned a verdict that { ' deceased broke his neek through acci- j dentally iVtling off .the- ship'o fang-} way. .! .... - 1 -' V— ! !