Gas Discounted As Cause Of Death

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30469, 17 June 1964, Page 1

Gas Discounted As Cause Of Death

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 16. Dr. P. P. Lynch, a pathologist, believes those who . died in the Khandallah tunnel tragedy on Sunday were suffocated by lack of oxygen.

Dr. Lynch, said tonight the symptoms described by those who had gone through the ordeal in the tunnel and lived, fitted closely those of oxygen deprivation. About three years ago the same sort of. tragedy had occured in Southland where three trapped men in a deep well died “through lack of oxygen.” Dr. Lynch discounted suggestions.that the tunnel deaths were the result of a poison gas. “On the general facts they were caused through lack of oxygen.” The chief pathologist at Wellington Hospital, Dr. J. O. Mercer, said tonight he had carried out a post-mortem examination on Mr S. Barlow, the ambulance man, who died in the tunnel. He could not make any statement because he had not reported his findings to the Coroner. Mr D. W. Jones, who came through the ordeal alive after three hours in the tunnel, described the. symptoms as the feeling of numbness of - the feet end legs spreading to the hips and then a general feeling of tiredness till consciousness was lost.

The consciousness of a duty performed gives us music at midnight.—George Herbert