ALPINE TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 58, 10 March 1938, Page 7

ALPINE TRAGEDY

DEATH OF P. CARROLL GUIDE GUNN'S EVIDENCE AT INQUEST [ Per Press Association.] TIMARU, March 9. A denial that he had taken a turn to the right soon after leaving de la Beche Hut, as suggested by Guido Bowie, was given by Guide Gunn when the inquest into the death of Patrick Carroll was continued at Timaru today. Still suffering from the injuries he had received when, together with Carroll, he slipped on the Rudolph Glacier and fell to an ice ledg* 40 feet below, Ronald Gunn, guido employed by Sullivan Bros.. Weheka West, was unable to stand while giving his evidence. Gunn said that he had spoken to Bowie for only two minutes, during which he told Bowie what he thought would be the best way for the party to bring the body back. That information had led Bowie to suggest that Gunn had made a mistake when had left de la Beche Hut. “I came back by the route which Bowie describes as the one I took going out. I did not take that, route going out and Bowie is mistaken in thinking that I did.” “There is no doubt from lhe evidence of Gunn that the fall from which deceased sustained injuries was an accidental fall due to Gunn slipping and carrying deceased to a considerable drop, from which both were rendered unconscious,” said the coroner, Mr H. Morgan. The medical evidence showed that the injuries were the cause of Carroll dying after a lapse of some hours, exposed to severe cold and frost hite. Death was due to injuries received from an accidental fall while making an east to weast traverse of the Graham Saddle. The coroner criticised Gunn’s judgment in setting out when he did and characterised it as an error of judgment, but paid a tribute to his fortitude and endurance after the accident occurred.