DEATH AT SHIP'S PARTY

Chronicle (Levin), 26 February 1949, Page 5

DEATH AT SHIP'S PARTY

Press AssociationJ

Sensational Evidence at Wellington Inqiiest ■■ ft

(Per

WiYLLliN CrTON, Feb. 25: That deceased died on February 11 by drowni'ng as the result of an aecidental f'all into Wellington Harhour was the tinding of the Ooroner (Mr, W, G. Mellish) at the inquest into the death of (ieorge Albert D'Arcy Wright. Wright fell into the water while descending the gangway of the Eominion Monarch 011 the night of February 11. Robert Tennyson -Bell said deceased was New Zealand representative for British Oelanese Ltd. Jack Seddon Hoar said he was present at a cocktail party 011 the ii'.uninioii Monarch. JLfeceased and his wife had also been present at

'7.15 p.m. when he saw deceased and his wife in the palm lounge. He assisted deceased 's wife to his car 011 the wharf and v hen he'went back to get Wright a crowd had gathered and he wat tohi Wright was in the water. Thc rescue attempts were nnsuccesst'ul. • ••, Albert Edward Boyton, harhour board employee, said he was abont r to go aboard the Dominion Monarch at about 8.10 p.m. when the quartermaster threw him a lffebuoy and said that there was a man overboard. Witness could hear the man between the ship and the wharf and he dropped the lifebuoy. He heard a voice say: "I have'got it. " Witness attempted to go down to the man b.ut was prevented. Ropes were thrown down and the man in the water caught one and helpers started to haul him up, but before he go.t to the top the ship surged and he dropped off. The man then was caught with a fit of vomiting and sank from view. Witness had a

clear view of the man. Jack Brew Qlliver, tally clerksaid he heard a voice calling from the water: "S.ave me! Save meP' It had been a very rough night and the ship had been surging all the time. Usually in passenger ships they ha'd a safer type of gangway than this. He had not seen a net slung under the gangway. In witness 's opinion deceased had walked off the end of the gqngway and stepped into space. He did not think there was anything at the bootom of the gangway to prevent this, There was no net under the gangway, said Police Sergeant John.Sidney Callanan. There had been nothing on the far end of the platform to stop anyone walking straight off into the water. From fluid taken from deceased 's stomach and tested, it vvqs clear that he had been heavily intoxicated at the time of his death, said Dr. Flora Smith, assistant patholo'gist, who conducted the postmo.rtem examination. Death was due to drowning while in a state of intoxieation. "I cannot shnt my eyes to the fact that deceased %was under the influence of Uquor," said the Coronor. -There was nothing to stop anyone from going straight ahead down the gangway and walking into the harbour. There was no net in aceordance with the regulations. There was 110 evidence to show deceased actually did get into the harbour Fy that means, and one could only assume t-hat that was probably the way- he fell. My. Wright was a former British Olympie swimming representative. -