KILLED IN TUNNEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17030, 2 May 1923, Page 8

KILLED IN TUNNEL.

CSTY MAN’S DEATH. BODY TERRIBLY MUTILATED. The body of an elderly man about sixty years of age, was found in the Lyttelton tunnel about a quarter of a mile in from the Heathcote end, shortly before nine o’clock this morning. iri a badly mutilated condition and practically unrecognisable. The first news of the tragedy reached Lyttelton just after the 8.20 a.m. train from Lyttelton had arrived at Heathcote. The engine-driver of the train on arriving at Heathcote reported that, half-way through the tunnel he felt a bump. He stopped the train and made an examination of the line, but the visibility was so poor on account of heavy smoke that the search had to he abandoned. At Heathcote he made an examination of the engine and found blood splashed on the cowcatcher. The tunnel was immediately blocked. The stationmnster at Lyttelton, on receiving the news, sent a gang of men with a stretcher and trolley to examine the tunnel. They found at about a mile and a half from the Lyttelton end a soft felt hat, and twelve yards further along, the remains of a mar were discovered, stretched between tne lines. From appearances it seemed that a Lyttelton-Christchurcb train had passed over the body. The remains were taken to the Lyttelton Casualty Ward. On an examination being made of the clothing the lame G. H. Parsons was found written in ink on the collar. There was Also a large number of letters in one of the pockets, some of which were addressed to the same name. Later Mr F. M. Gundrv, of the Public Trust Office, and Mr F. D. Sargent, solicitor, iderttified the body as that of George Harvey Parsons, accountant, of 12, Buckley’s Road, Christchurch. It is not known how Mr Parsons came to get into the tunnel. No one was seen to go into the tunnel. Mr Parsons was a married man, and leaves a widow and daughter. A man named W .Mitchell stated this afternoon that he saw Parsons on the 7.00 a.m. t*-ain from Christchurch to Lyttelton, before the train loft Christchurch. He was sitting in the same carriage, but he did not notice him leave it.