ACCIDENTAL DEATH

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20743, 1 March 1939, Page 9

ACCIDENTAL DEATH

ROTOMA QUARRY MISHAP HAMILTON INQUEST VERDICT WORKMAN STRUCK BY ROCK-FALL A verdict that death was due to injuries accidentally received and that no blame was attachable to anyone, was returned by the coroner, Mr F. W. Platts, at the conclusion of the inquest yesterday afternoon into the death of Antony Jack Edwin Christensen (31), quarryman, of Ohura, who died on Monday evening in the Waikato Hospital as a result of injuries received, when he was struck on the head by a rock while working at Lake Rotoma on January 20. Evidence of identification was given by deceased’s father, Antony Christensen, farmer, of Ohura, who said that after the accident his son had been taken to Rotorua Hospital. Following treatment there, he had been sent back to the camp at ’Rotoma but became ill the next day and was taken back to Rotorua Hospital. After about two weeks there he was transferred to Waikato Hospital. Fellow Worker’s Evidence Ileta Waretini, labourer, of Rotorua, employed by the Public Works Department at Rotoma, said that on the day of ithe accident Christensen was at work with a rock drill on the face of the quarry, about 50ft up, while another man was working above him and a little further along. Deceased called to witness to shut off the compressor and he then let himself down from the face. As he reached the ground, witness saw a piece of stone falling above deceased and called out to him. Christensen tried to dodge but was struck a glancing blow on the head. Waretini was positive that the rock did not come from any movement of the other man but thought it might have been dislodged by the rope used by deceased. This had happened before at the quarry.

Alexander Deighton Swainson, overseer, stated that the quarry was being benched to make it safer when the accident occurred. Medical evidence to the effect that the immediate cause of death was a cerebral abscess was given by Dr K. P. L. MacGregor, of Waikato Hospital.