THE NGAHAURANGA ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 30 July 1910, Page 6

THE NGAHAURANGA ACCIDENT

INJURED MAN SUCCUMBS. Andrew Riddell, a married man, who,ou Tuesday last,, accidentally lost his balance while working on an overhead shaft at Dimock's Bacon Factory at Ngahauranga, and fell, head downwards, a distance of seventeen feet on to tho concrete floor, sustaining severe injuries, died at the hospital at 3 a.m. yesterday. Deceased leaves a widow. ' *nd family, who reside at Petone. THE INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Hospital yesterday afternoon, before Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M. (Coroner). . . Frederick James ■ Burrell, cleaner at the factory, stated that he was on the night shift with tho deceased last Monday _ night,- starting at 10. p.m. His duties were to look after tho bearings, which had recently been overhauled. At about 1 a.m. the following 'morning, deceased came up on top of ■the beam ivhcre the bearings were for the purpose of. oiling. them, and he seemed to slip (the witness thought) through the'cover of the bearing being greasy, and his hands also greasy. Deceased, events, lost his hold, and, slipping to the left,' fell a distance of about 17'feot. Witness rendered temporary .assistance, and Dr. Henry was quickly in attendance, the unfortunate man being taken to the Hospital -in an ambulance. . ' ... Thomas Riddell stated that he was a brother of deceased's, who was 47 years of age, his wife and four children residing at Peterie., William Woolridge Munro, engineer in the .employ of Dimock and Company, also gave evidence. Dr.' S. J. Simpson, who was present when deceased arrived at the Hospital; described the state of the patient. Deceased never regained full consciousness, and died at 3 a.m. ,that day (Friday). The immediate cause of death was fracture of tho base of the cranium. A verdict of accidental death was returned. , - Mr. D. M. Findlay appeared on behalf, of the .relatives. .