YOUTH’S FATAL FALL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1009, 27 June 1930, Page 1

YOUTH’S FATAL FALL

CRASHED 80 FEET TO PAVEMENT FROM Y.M.C.A. WINDOW A boarder at the 1 .M.C.A., Lesttr j Gardner, died at one o’clock today I from injuries received when he fell from a window in the top storey’ of j the building.i Giirdner fell SOft, crashing with sickening force on to the ashphalt below. He was terribly’ injured and was picked up unconscious and hurried to the Auckland Hospital, where he lingered for a time without regaining consciousness. His right arm was broken, his skull fractured and he was suffering from severe internal injuries. The accident happened at 11.15 o’clock this morning, j Gardner, who was under medical attention for an illness, is understood to havo been admitted to the Y.M.C.A. for a few days, and during that time has been tended by the matron and another boarder.

It is understood that abuut eleven o’clock this morning the matron hud just left the room, the young: man then quite quiet, and talking of his father’s impending visit. It is stated that the patient then immediately jumped from the bed. and made for the window. A youth, who was in the room accompanying him. rushed at the young man. hinging his arms round his body in sl vain attempt to check him. but the patient slipped from his grasp after a struggle, and fell from the window-sill.

His body landed heavily on the paved basement, and when the alarm was raised he was picked up in an unconscious condition, suffering from severe injuries.

The injured lad was immediately taken to the Auckland Hospital by the St. John Ambulance. A pathetic feature of the accident is that the injured boy’s father, who was summoned from the South, is now on his way to Auckland, and will arrive this evening.