SAD FATALITY AT MANGAHAO.

Shannon News, 21 June 1927, Page 3

SAD FATALITY AT MANGAHAO.

YOUNG MAN LOSES HIS LIFE.. A sad fatality occurred at No. 3 dam, Mangahao, at 9 p.m. on Friday, when a young Englishman, named Mark Gardiner, agad 20 years, lost his life. The deceased was engaged at the time as pump attendant, and was working at a motor pump on iho wall of the dam. This wall being 9 fW>t high and 2ft 6in wide '-n the top. The attention of one of his mates was (Lawn by a noise at the pump and on looking round he saw deceased throw up his arms and fall back into the water which was three feet deep. Assistance v.-as immediately forthcoming and deceased was got out of the water. Kestorative methods were resorted to and continued for hours, but he never regained consciousness, death intervening at 1.30 a.m. It is believed he received a slight shock from the motor and stepping back fell into the water, the double shock causing his death. It had been reported the previous evening that the motor was shorting, but a thorough test, which was immediately made, had failed to find anything wrong. On Saturday afternoon following the accident, Mr Gregory, electrical engineer, at Mangaore, made another test, but failed to find anything amiss. The irony of it is that this shift was the last that.the pump would have been required. Deceased, who came from Worthing, Sussex, England, arrived in the Dominion in October of last year, and for the past six months, along with his brother, had, 'been employed on the Works.

INQUEST,

The inquest was held at Mangaore on Saturday before Mr T. Brown (act-ing-coroner).. Constable Blaikie, representing .the police, and Mr Johnston, the Public Works Department. William Albert Mercier, labourer, stated that on Friday evening at about 9 p.m. ho was working on the concrete construction. His attention was drawn towards the electric pump nearby, where Gardiner war- working, and heard him call out. At first he thouoght the sound came from the motor. He then saw Gardiner fall into the water at the far side of the pump. He called out to the others that a man was in the watei and he went to Gardiner's assistance immediately. One of his mates named Withers, arrived before him and Aya-j builing -deceased out of the water. Gardiner was lifted on to the concrete work alongside, he being unconscious Artificial respiration was tried, but without deceased regaining conscious ness. Witness said he did not notice if the pump was still working. . To Mr Johnston: When he arrived lie did not notice if the water was flowThomas Charles Withers, labourer, stated that on Friday evening at 9 p.m. lie was at his work on the dam construction when his attentior was drawn by Mercier that a man was in the water bv the electric pump. He immediately went to his assistance and frund -the 'nan was Mark Gardiner, who was ly--ng still in the water, face downwards. Withers pulled him out of the water and artificial respiration was immediately tried, but he did not regain consciousness and made no movement. The pump was working when witness got there. It would be about one or one and a haif minutes from when deceased fell into the water before witness reached him

John Martin Jordan, overseer, giving'evidence, said he was notified by telephone at 9.10 p.m.., that the pumpman had fallen into the river. He rang Nurse Wallace notifying her and proceeded at once to the scene of the accident. When he arrived the man was unconscious. They tried artificial respiration and from the result found that ther> was no water in him. Ht was removed to the men's crib house, where the treatment was continued tor 4£ hours, this being supervised by .Nurse Wallace and later by Dr. Bell. On Thursday the 16th it had been reported lo witness by Mr. Keeshan that the motor was shorting, and witness tola him to g?t the electrician to attend to it and tins was done. In addition to artificial respiration hot water bott.on were used and injections given. William Joseph Keeshan, foreman titter, said deceased was fitter's attendant and on the evening of the 17th lie was pump attendant. He was accustomed to working the pump. On two occasions that day he had been told not to take the cover off without stopping the motor. These instructions were specially impresed upon him, as on tno 15th there had been a slight leakage. This had been rectified and the pump was in good order. The pump had been put right before Gardiner Ayent on dutv He had always found Gardiner a •'"areful workman, The pump had worked since early morning and the man befoie deceased had left the pump in good running order. Witness saw the pump between C and p.m., and it was then apparently alrignt. Andrew Whiteford, mechanical and electrical overseer, stated ho received instructions about shortage yi the pump •Holer on the morning of the 17th froiForeman Keeshan. He interviewed the electrical foreman Allan and he informed witness that he had attended to the matter and repaired same on the previous evening. Witness then obtained the services of James Langdon. the electrician, and they proceeded to the motor! Witness personally inspected and tested the pump motor in running condition and also while stopped. He found the motor in good order and no signs of leakage whatever after having made special personal tests under working conditions. The motor was specially earthed owing to the flowing water. If the pump man received 1 « shock from the motor, the maximum would be 200 volts. This would do him no injury from his point of view . Reginald Clvde Allen, electrical foreman, stated that on Thursday evening •it 7 30 p.m. he was called out. He proceeded to the place where the pump was working. Witness looked at. the starter first and found it alright and no sign of any bare wires along the whole -course, cf -the pump. He then tested it whileiit was working for wy defect. The first time he went down

the tin cover was half on and he was informed sparks were coming this he put down to the cover coming -in contact with the coupling between the pump and the motor. These sparks in his opinion, were not electrical but frictional. After having finished the tests with a running motor he put some more insulation tape around and then went away. The following morning he re-examined it r.nd found everything in order. There had been no previous trouble.

Dr. Bell, of Shannon, stated that on, Friday evening re received a call at about' 9.30 p.m. to proceed to Mangahao. He arrived there about 11 p.m. and then made an examination of deceased, whom he recognised as the youth Gaidiner. He was unconscious and was being treated by artificial respiration by the Nurse and others. He administered stimulants and continued artificial respiration till 1 30 a.m. He then considered there was 119 hope of recovery, forming the opinion that lift was already extinct. From the information, supplied of the circumstances of the accident in conjunction with his eaieful examination he formed the opinion that death was in all probability due to the shock, consequent upon his sudden immersion into icy cold water. THE VERDICT. The Coroner's verdict was that deceased died from shock caused by his sudden immersion into icy cold water. He said he was satisfied that every precaution had been taken to safeguard the electrical pump and gear attached.

The funeral of deceased tool: place at the Shannon Cemetery yesterday afternoon, the cortejge leaving Ven. Bede's Church. Prior to leaving the church, an impressive service was conducted by Rev. Farnell, the hymns "Lead, Kindly Light" and "Radiant Morn" being "sung, Mrs Clifford-Jones presiding at the organ. Rev. also conducted the service at the grave side. The cortege, which was a lengthy one, included a number of deceased's workmates from Mangahao: Mr Johnston, resident engineer at Marigahao Hydro, Mr Hutton, assistant engineer, and Mr T. Thompson, manager Orown Studios, Wellington, and Mr Jacobse.n (Wellington), the two latter gentlemen being close friends of the deceased, weie the pall-bcartrs. Many beautiful floral emblems and messages of sympathy were roeeived as a tribute to-t ; he memory of one who was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.