FALL FROM SCAFFOLD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 874, 18 January 1930, Page 6

FALL FROM SCAFFOLD

DEATH FOUR DAYS LATER WANTED TO RESUME WORK Special to THE SUN CHRISTCHURCH, Today. Falling from a scaffold on December 13, Harry Edward Woods, carpenter, aged 53, died four days later. He was conscious soon after the accident and remained so until a few hours before his death. At the inquest held today a verdict was returned that death was due to acute softening of the brain and injury to the spine, originating from an accidental fall from a scaffolding, there being no suggestion of insufficiency of the scaffolding or of negligence in its erection. It was stated in evidence that deceased was unconscious when picked up, but soon regained consciousness. He could give no account of how he fell and wanted to resume work, but was persuaded to go home. A doctor was called, and later deceased was taken to the hospital. Mary Russell, house surgeon, stated that deceased was quite conscious when admitted on December 16. He complained of much pain and stiffness down the back of the neck. It was difficult to get any statement from him, as he seemed not to want to be bothered. He stated that he had fallen from a scaffold two dai r s previously, and thought he had landed on the back of his head. He became unconscious during the night and died the next morning.