FATALITY AT MANGAHAO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3655, 21 June 1927, Page 2

FATALITY AT MANGAHAO.

YOUNG ALAN’S DEATH.

A titter named Mark Gardiner contacted with a live wire at Mangahao on Friday night last and thereby met his death, not from the electric shock he received, but from sudden immersion in the ice-cold water of the dam into which he fell. Earlier in the clay another fitter named lan Ross, while working at a pump at No. 3 dam, had sustained a “shock” and the matter had been investigated to the satisfaction of those in charge. Ten hours later , (0 o’clock in the evening) Gardiner, while working at the same pump and told to be extremely eare’ful, had also received a “shock” which knocked him over onto the concrete. Unfortunately he rolled over the edge of the dam into the icecold water from which he was quickly dragged. Five hours of artificial respiration however, proved fruitless. At the inquest conducted before Air. T. Brown, of Levin, Coroner, the evidence showed that the current was not strong enough to kill deceased and that his heart must have failed with the sudden immersion in the cold waters of the dam. Deceased was 21 years of age and was a recent arrival in New Zealand from England. A brother is employed at Mangahao, but all his other relations are in the Old Country. ACCIDENT TO AIR. lAN ROSS. Afr. lan Ross, mentioned above, and son of Air. and All's. John Ross* of Thynne Street, had a narrow escape prior to the above fatality, while in charge of the pump at the dam. It appears that owing to a contact he received a shock which caused him to he. precipitated into the dam. Fortunately there was not much water in the dam. He was rendered temporarily unconscious and received injuries to his leg. He subsequently managed to scramble out unassisted, as the accident was not observed by any of the workmen. Mr. Ross was removed to the hospital where it was ascertained that the injuries sustained where two simple fractures of the leg, one near the thigh and one below the knee. Mr. Ross is progressing favourably although it will be several weeks before he is able to return to work.