HILLS FATALITY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 740, 19 April 1933, Page 7

HILLS FATALITY.

Charge of Manslaughter May Follow. RELIEF WORKERS DEATH. As a result of a fatality on Summit Road yesterday afternoon, when George John Christopher Bank, a relief worker, aged 51, met his death, it is possible that a charge of manslaughter will be laid against another man, who is alleged to have been arguing with Bank immediately before he fell. Detectives inquired into the case this morning and took statements from a number of men who were working with Bank when he received the fatal injuries. Detective M’Clung interviewed a party of men in an outbuilding at the foot of Rapaki Road, w'hile Detective Halcrow visited the scene of the accident. The police have not yet completed their inquiries. An Eye-witness’s Story. One relief worker stated this morning that Bank had been concerned in a dispute. “ I was working alongside Bank, and an altercation arose between Bank and another man,” he said. “ Bank was twice struck on the body. He stumbled and fell about four feet over a bank on to his back. He rose to his feet and then fell forward, striking his chin on a stone. He was unconscious when picked up.” Other eye-witnesses who were approached by a reporter stated that they had been told not to say anything. Mr Bank, who lived at 27, Grange Street, was one of a gang of 271 men working on the uncompleted portion of the Summit Road at a spot about a mile past the hut situated on the slopes of Witch Hill. The gang was under the charge of Mr J. Wildermoth. At first it was thought that Bank was only stunned by his fall, but all efforts to restore consciousness failed. Mr E. Puddle volunteered to walk the five miles to the foot of Rapaki Road to telephone for assistance and by 2.45 p.m. the St John Free Ambulance had made an ascent three miles up the rough, stony cart track which is the continuation of the road proper. In the meantime the other men, after having massaged ' the injured man's neck for some time without result, had carried him two miles to the ambulance, which had pulled up at the end of the track. The going was exceedingly difficult, over a steep, tussockcovered hillside. Six men accomplished this task, using an improvised stretcher. Dangerous Journey. Bv 3.30 p.m. the descent was begun, the ambulance proceeding slowly and carefully over the uneven surface. Projecting boulders and deep watercourses worn in the road made the going tricky, especially as the road was just wide enough for a car, with a 300-foot drop if a wheel slipped. The ambulance had one or two narrow escapes from accident, On one occasion the outside rear wheel skidding to within inches of the crumbly brink. Three nursing sisters who accompanied the ambulance did what they could for the unconscious man, but were unable \o diagnose any injury. He was alive when he was placed in the ambulance at 3.30 p.m., but upon arrival at the Christchurch Public Hospital he was found to be dead. Inquest Opened. The death of George John Christopher Bank was the subject of an inquest which was opened before Mr 11. A. Young, Coroner, at the Christchurch Hospital last night. Evidence of identification was given by Knut Karl Ernst Bank, son of the dead man. Witness said that his father was a bricklayer by trade, but had been on relief work for some time. lie was a naturalised British subject, resident in New Zealand about twenty-one 3 r ears. He was a native of Norway. He had always enjoyed good health. Witness last saw him at breakfast that day at about 7.15 a.m. The inquest was adjourned sine die, and the Coroner ordered a post mortem examination to be made.