BOY CRUSHED BY A HORSE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1930, Page 7

BOY CRUSHED BY A HORSE

A FATHER’S FORTITUDE,

AUCKLAND, May 14

The story of a father’s ordeal was revealed at an inquest at Papakura concerning the death of Ronald Frederick M’Crea, aged nine years. The boy was fatally injured when a horse fell on him at Clevedon on March 15.

In a written statement, John Richard M’Crno, father of the boy, said lie was riding round his farm on a horse, his son being seated behind him. As the animal was ascending a steep hill it stumbled and reared, and then fell backwards upon them.

Though temporarily stunned, M’Crae was soon able to crawl to his son, who complained that he had internal pains, and was unable to walk. M’Crae thought his own leg was broken. However, when ho could find no fracture he came to the conclusion that his hipjoint had become dislocated. He knocked his hip ngainst the trunk of a tree in an effort to remedy the matter. Then he crawled some distance over a hill until he saw a Maori boy, who caught his horse for, him. He mounted and went to a neighbour’s house for assistance. He procured a bottle of brandy and set out to return to his son. However, the pain in his 'njured leg became so great that he was forced to dismount and crawl part of the distance., When he had given the injured boy a drink, assistance arrived, and the lad was placed upon a horse. For a great part of the distance be rode the animal himsellf,

As a result of bis own injury it necessarv for M’Crno to enter hospi-« tal. and be was still unable to walk without crutches.

The Coroner returned a verdict that death was enused h-e injuries received I'voorrh being accidently crushed by ■a falling horse.