BUSHMAN'S DEATH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 26, 23 November 1943, Page 5

BUSHMAN'S DEATH

ACCIDENT WHILE ON FURLOUGH

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AT IXQUKST

Admitted to the Rolorua Hospital on November ]0 last in a critical condition, Avith serious injuries sustained in the State Forestry area at Te Whaiti, Frank Balfour Rhodes, 30 year old bushman, died; the same night. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death was held at Rotorua last Aveek, the Coroner (Mr W. L. Richards), returning a verdict that the cause had been accidcdntal and that Rhodes had died as the result of severe injuries to the chest and shock while employed as a bushman in the State -Forest hush at Te Whaiti.

The Coroner commented that a sad feature of the case Avas that .deeeiutod had been on llurlough alter serving in the Middle East from the commencement of the campaign. He had enjoyed a few weeks' leave and then had decided to work ..tat his previous occupation. He. had indicated an industrious turn of mind and it Avas regrettable that lie had lost his life in such extremely sad cidcumstances.

Evidence of identification was given by Arthur George. Rhodes,, of Peria. Mangonui, North Auckland, who said that his son was an experienced bushman and had been in the best of health following his return from overseas. His son had been employed in the State Mill at Te Whaiti, prior to joining the Army in 1939.

Details ol' the fatality were, given Jby Roger Hulton, tractor driver for the State Forestry Department, who Jjad been with deceased at the tiiue. They had been hauling logs at- 8 a.m. on the day of the accident,, deceased being a breaker-out.

"It had parked the tractor on the a-idge of a hill overlooking the position where Rhodes was," testified -witness. "He was coupling a log to .the main tractor rope and gave the :signal- that everything was in order .i'or hauling. I moved my machine to take up the slack and commenced Avinching the log but, owing to the •excessive strain I alighted from the tractor and returned to the brow of the hill. "I then heard Rhode:-: calling out .i'or help. I ran down to discover 'that he was lying under a matai -log seriously injured." Witness derailed how lie, and others later reaching the scene, had given all •possible assistance. Witness added that it appeared 'to him that the accident had been •due to the winch rope faulting with -an uprooted log which had been flung in deceased's direction. There ..■appeared no doubt in his mind that the log had struck- Rhodes when it m T as hurled in the air.

Other evidence went to show that had been an experienced bushman ■ ancl very zealous in his work. 1