SAD FATALITY.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVI, Issue 66, 21 February 1938, Page 2

SAD FATALITY.

ELECTRIC LINESMAN’S DEATH. AA’HILST REMEDYING A FAULT. “That the deceased, Francis AA’illiam Ernest Bowering, died at Marakeke on February 19th, 1938, from shock and asphyxia resulting from contact with a live electric power wire carrying current of high voltage, whilst in the execution of his duty.” The foregoing was the verdict of the district Coroner, Mr F. J. Adeane, J.P., at an inquest held yesterday into the death on Saturday afternoon of Mr Frank Bowering, senior inspector to the Central Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board. There were no eye-witnesses of the tragedy. Henry Driver deposed that in company with his employer, Mr Harry Butler, garage proprietor, of AA’aipukurau, he was proceeding by car to Al’hetukura. AA'hcn opposite the golf links he saw a man lying face downwards on the grass, alongside a power pole near which a Power Boai-d lorry was standing. AA’hile Mr Butler summoned the police and Dr. Fisher by telephone, witness examined the deceased, but could find no sign of pulse or heartbeat. One foot of an extension ladder standing against the power pole appeared to have been shifted from its original position when erected. To him it appeared unsafe. Dr. AA r . B. Fisher deposed that in response to Mr Butler’s message he proceeded to the scene of the fatality but found life extinct. In the course of a full examination made later at the hospital he found several linear burns on the right hand and left forearm, in addition to minor abrasions on the face and a slight wound on the scalp. In his opinion death, which would have been instantaneous, was due to shock affecting the heart and brain, the result of deceased coming in contact with a high-voltage wire. Gordon Leonard Beer, the Power Board’s engineer, testified that deceased was a thoroughly capable and reliable electrician. In response to a message from the Otawhao Dairy Factory, stating that they were without power, he despatched the deceased to locate the fault at about 2 p.m., with instructions to report if he needed assistance. He heard nothing further about him until he was later apprised of the accident. There should have been no occasion for the deceased to visit the pole at which his body was found.

Replying to a question by the Coroner, Mr Beer stated that on the pole was some material which would have been useful in correcting the fault at Otawhao, but its removal would be a hazardous operation and should not have been attempted without special equipment. The wire at this point carried 11,000 volts. It was quite possible that deceased, in an endeavor to give the consumer the power quickly, had elected to take the material from the pole, dnd thus save the time necessary to procure it from AA’aipukurau, which is seven miles further away. Questioned by deceased’s father Mr Beer said that whatever motive prompted the deceased to stop at the pole, he was certain that he was acting in the interests of the Board and the consumer. The engineer stated that when inspecting the scene after the accident he observed on the high-power wire what appeared to be human skin; the mark was about the size of a. man’s hand. Constable D. H. Sutton, of AYaipukurau, described the steps taken by him after learning of the accident, including removal of the body to the AA’aipukurau Hospital, and the discovery of the burns on hand and forearm. He produced the coat which deceased was wearing, and indicated a burn below the elbow which corresponded with that on the right forearm of the body. After the Coroner’s verdict had been delivered, Mr G. E. Fowler, sec-retary-manager, asked leave to express the Board's regret at the accident which had caused the loss of a highly valued officer, and tendered their sympathy to Mr Bowering senr., and to the widow and four young children of the deceased. Mr H. F, Norris, AA’aipukurau, attended in the interests of the State Insurance Department.