ACCIDENT AT INGLEWOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1918, Page 6

ACCIDENT AT INGLEWOOD.

INQUEST ON VICTIM. The inquest touching the circumstances surrounding the death of Eofbert Kilpatriek, farmer, of Durham Road, Inglewood, who died in the New Plymouth Hospital as the result of injuries received by a tree falling on him at his farm on May 23, was resumed before the coroner (Mr. A. Crooke, S.M ) yesterday afternoon. Sergeant Treahy represented the police. Dr W- R Wade, New Plymouth, stated that a post-mortem examination of the body disclosed that the causes of death were a small rupture of the left kidney, a small rupture of the left lung, and rupture of the diaphragm muscle, with hernia of the entire stomach into the left pleural cavity The immediate cause of death was strangulation and rupture of the stonmxjli. The injuries were apparently caused by a heavy blow on the left side, and could have been oaused by a tree or heavy piece of wood falling on th body. Alfred Kilpatriek said he wa3 engaged with his brother (the deceased) on May 23, cutting a tree on deceased's farm at Durham Eoad, Inglewood. The tree had been lying on the ground for several months, the top resting on the ground and the butt on a stump albout 3ft from the ground. He and his brother were trimming the branches from the trunk of the tree. The top part of the tree formed a fork. Deceased crawled under the log with the intention of getting between the branches forming the fork, so as to cut through the log. Just as he was under the log the butt slipped off without any warning. When he went to his assistance, he found deceased lying face downwards, with his knees pressed against his chest. The weight of the tree fell on his loins. Witness managed to remove deceased from under the tree- (He screamed out when the tree fell on him, but after that seemed to lose all consciousness. Witness got assistance and removed deceased to the house, and was present when the doctor arrived. Witness came wiitlh deceased to the hospital the same day. He had up to that time been a, strong man and enjoyed the best of health. A verdict of accidental death was returned.