DUNEDIN BATH FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2257, 17 September 1914, Page 7

DUNEDIN BATH FATALITY.

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DROWNING. • ' (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Dunedin, September 16. The District Coroner (Mr. C. G. Graham) held an inquest this morning concerning tho death 011 Monday night, in tho municipal baths, of a youth named Andrew Anderson. Mr. \V. C. MacGregor appeared for tho Corporation and Senior Sergeant Dart for the police. Dr. Gordon Macdonald stated that lie was called to the baths at about 10 p.m., but found that the lad was dead, though efforts to induce respiration were continued for some time. He concluded ttyat death might have been duo fxi any of three possible causes: drowning, an epileptic seizure, or cardiac failure. In tlio circumstances it appeared probable that the lad died from somo form of heart failure. The only way to avoid similar accidents was to have filtered water in the baths so that the bottom could bo always seen. Michael Leonard Anderson, a brother, identified the ..body and deposed that the lad had always enjoyed good health. From subsequent evidence by the bathkeeper (Mt. Olds) and others, it appeared that an alarm was given at 8.45 p.m. by a lad named Gillies, who touchel something on the bottom of the Mr. Olds and others dived at the spot indioated by Gillies, but failed to discover the body. At this stage none of the clothes in the dressing boxes appeared to be unclaimed. At 9.20 p.m., when nearly everyone had dressed, a boy reported some unclaimed olothes. Further search was then ma-de and tlio bath-keeper found Anderson's body in 7ft. 6in. of wator. Tlio Coroner said that he did not think any other verdict was possible than one of accidental drowning, moro particularly as no possible blame could be attached to the authorities. Mr. Olds seemed to have done everything possible to test the genuineness of the alarm when it was first givn, and to have taken the proper steps when it was afterwards discovered that clothes were unclaimed. He did not see that any purpose could be served by a post-mor-tem—he did not wish to harry the feelings of the relatives unless it was necessary and there was intense feeling onthe subject. If the relatives desired it lie would order an autopsy. The brother of the dead lad intimated that tho relatives were against a post mortem and the Coroijor- then found that the cause of death was accidental drowning, no blamo being attachable to anyone. *