FRACTURED SKULL

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1931, Page 4

FRACTURED SKULL

COBDEN.MAN INJURED. A FALL FROM WINDOW. The Hokitika police are devoting their attention to tile manner in which Mervyn Berkett, a miner, of Cobden, and now working at Wabsent!, came by injuries during the early hours ol bunciay morning. Burnett came to spend the week-end at Hokitika, arriving at 9 o’clock an night, and registered ..at the Commercial Hotel. Shortly after his arrival, he got in touch with a. iriend with whom lie spent some . little time, am* finaJy retired lor the inght at about 1 o’clock on Sunday moiinng. Everything was normal when he went to hod, and the ‘licensee noted nothing, unusual when he retired rfn hour .later.

Shortly after 3 o'clock, Constable Randall, who was ou night duty, was making his rounds, and, passing the right-of-way alongside the hotel and leading to the beach, saw Berkett, who was clad in his night attire, lying on the ground. The latter was in a semiconscious condition and was not able to give a coherent explanation as to how lie came to be tlnjre. Berkett was suffering from wounds to his head; and shoulder. \

Dr. B. L. Wilson was called . and ordered the injured man to be- remove, ed the Hospital'where a careful examination of his .wounds jy&s made,. It was then discovered that the base of the skull was fractured, while a small bone in his right shoulder hacl been broken, The right side had sustained considerable bruising. Latest inquiries at the Hospital disclose the fact that the patient is progressing favourably. It was later ascertained that Berkett’s room was on the second floor, the window being about sixteen feet above the level of the ground, it would appear that Berkett had either jumped out or fell out of the window and dropped to the ground in the right of way.