Fatal Fall From Whangarei Express

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 551, 2 January 1929, Page 1

Fatal Fall From Whangarei Express

MAN DROPS 60 FEET RECOVERED FROM RIVER <From Our Own Correspondent) WHANGAREI, To-day. Dramatic circumstances surround the death of John Dempster, who was employed at the Portland cement works. Yesterday morning he either jumped or fell from a carriage of the Auck-land-Whangarei express as it was passing over the Topuni River. His body was seen to fall 60ft into the -water and mud and then disappeared. The train was stopped and a search w r as made, but no trace could be found of the man. Later tbe body was recovered by the Maungaturoto police and taken to Whangarei. Mr. Dempster had been visiting Auckland with a companion, Mr. J. Together they left yesterday morning to return to Whangarei. Mr. Dempster was riding in a second-class carriage near the engine. He suddenly left the carriage as the train was passing over the Topuni River and passengers in other parts of the train saw the body falling into the river. The deceased had been working at Portland for some time. He is thought to be a single man, aged 45.