LINEMAN’S FATAL FALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3922, 23 March 1929, Page 3

LINEMAN’S FATAL FALL.

Auckland, March 22. Being overcome by sudden pain, Robert Bruce Thompson, a telegraph linesnfan, fell from a ladder $0 feet high this morning and Avas killed instantly. Thompson fell backwards from the ladder and struck the pavement 20 feet below. His skull was crushed by the force of the fall. It Avas at first thought he had been electrocuted but this Avas disproved by investigations made later by Mr. EC. Gage, chief telegraph engineer, and by an official of the Auckland Power Board. Thompson was working with a companion, named Wteaver. They Avere engaged in running out and joining overhead telephone Avires. Weaver Avas seated on the lower arm of the telephone pole, joining some wires. Thompson had carried the wire up the ladder and Avas only about five rungs from the top when 'he appeared to be overcome by a sudden fit of acute pain, which made him lose his hold and fall backwards. As Thompson came up the ladder, W(e ! aver heard him moan. He looked down to see his companion with his head bent forward and clutching the ladder with both hands. Before Weaver could ask Avhut •was wrong, Thompson released his hold and crashed to the pave|ment. The dead man had complained of pains in the back some days previously and on Monday he was away from Avork. He thought he was getting an attack of influenza. This morning he had also told his companion he had pains in the back. Thompson had been engaged by the Post and Telegraph department for some time. He was about 46 years of age and • lived at Freeman’s Bay.