NEARLY TWO YEARS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1931, Page 6

NEARLY TWO YEARS

LIVING WITH BROKEN NE„K REMARKABLE CASE.

A case which the district coroner, Mr G. J. M. Wliyley, described as without precedent in his experience, was lately inquired into at an inquest on Cyril Barton, aged 16, of Luton, England..

In September, 1929, Barton, a strong swimmer,, went to a disused sandpit at Leighton Buzzard, which is used as a bathing and swimming pool. He dived from a spring-hoard, anci after some time lie was seen floating with his anus outstretched. He was got- to land, and was found to be paralysed from the.neck downwards, but was able, to, speak. Barton was removed to hospital and remained, there six months, and was then taken to his home,- where he eventually died. His brother stated that owing to the' dry weather at the time of the accident there was less water than usual in the pit; Ho thought his brother dived sideways and hit his chin on tlio bottom,. . 1 Dr. David Jniber stated that the fourth and fifth vertebrae of the, spine were fractured and there was concussion of the spinal cord. What had happened was similar to a case of hanging, only lower down. The doctor added that he could find no case onrecord where a person had lived so long with a broken neck.

The coroner returned a verdict of “Death by misadventure)”