BEACH ACCIDENT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20542, 18 February 1935, Page 7

BEACH ACCIDENT.

Motor-cyclist Thrown From Machine. Severe head injuries were suffered by W. J. Rosengrave, of Edinburgh Street, Spreydon, who was thrown from his motor-cycle when competing in a race conducted by the Corsair Social Club at Leithfield Beach yesterday afternoon. He was attended by Dr Starr, of Amberley, and later taken to the Christchurch Hospital by the St John Ambulance. His condition has improved slightly, but is still serious. Rosengrave was travelling at about seventy miles an hour when his machine struck a rut which lifted him clear of the saddle. He had no sooner gained control again than he struck another rut which lifted him clear of his machine. The third rut flung him off the motor-cycle, which .turned a number of somersaults. Rosengrave was evidently struck by the machine in falling, as the sand in which he came off was very soft and could hardly have inflicted the injuries he received. The machine had a broken rear axle, while the wheel was badly jammed and it is thought that the breaking of the axle may have caused the accident. The sand was very bumpy where Rosengrave was riding, as he was well up the beach from the water. The course lower down, which was followed by the other riders, was smooth.