ACCIDENTAL FALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 142, 17 June 1936, Page 6

ACCIDENTAL FALL

VERDICT AT INQUEST CARPENTER’S DEATH MISHAP AT CASTLECLIFF That the deceased died on June 5 in tho Wanganui Public Hospital, the cause of death being cerebral laceration and pneumonia resulting from accidentally falling into the river whilst engaged in his usual einployment with the Wanganui Harbour Board, was the verdict of the coroner, Mr 8. AT. Dixon, at the inquest held in Wanganui yesterday concerning the death of Henry Goodfellow, at Castlecliff, aged 6*5 years, a carpenter, who fell between the wharf and the tug Kahanui al Castlecliff, on June 2. Sergeant F. C. Harrison conducted proceedings on behalf of the police, Air. A. B. Wilson appeared in the interests of the Wanganui Harbour Board, and Air. G. Young attended for the relatives. Dr. A. D. Nelson, medical .uperinlendant of the Wanganui Public Hospital, said the deceased was admitted to hospital at 3.20 p.m. on July 2. He was suffering from injuries receivefl through falling off the wharf. His injuries were contusion of the left temple with cerebrel laceration. He quickly developed pneumonia and died from the combination of these circumstances on June 5. Lenard Edward Brasting, a launch driver employed by the Wanganui Harbour Board, said that on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 2, he was walking along No. 2 Wharf at 3.15 p.m. lie saw the deceased carrying a wooden grating, about 3ft. square, on his shoulder. He was taking this grating to the Karere where he was effecting repairs to the launch. Witness saw the deceased leave the wharf and step from the stringer to the boat deck of the Kahanui. The next thing he saw' was the grating fall from the deceased’s shoulder and at the same time he noticed the deceased fall between the Kahanui and the wharf. Witness saw the deceased in the water and called for help. Air. W. H. Bellman came to his assistance and together they recovered him from the water. When rescued the injured man appeared to be seriously hurt. He later complained of feeling very ill. Boon after this he was transferred from the ship to the ambulance. William Harold Bellman, chief engineer of the Kahanui, said he was engaged in repair work inside the tug when he heard a noise as if something had fallen on the deck. He looked over the side and saw a hat floating in the water. The deceased was recovered from the water in an unconscious condition. When able to speak he did not know what had happened or how he had come to be in the water. Lenard Edward Brasting, recalled by the coroner, said he saw the deceased step from the stringer to the tug and noticed him fall. He did not consider the grating an excessive load. The deceased was performing normal duties and there was nothing exceptional about the work he was doing. Witness could not give any reason as to the cause of the fall. The coroner then returned his ver-