ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.
FALL FROM SCAFFOLDING.
Press Association. DUNEDIN, November 2. This morning a tiler, named Joseph D. Durham, one of a party of workmen engaged on the construction of a new building for the Henley Dairy Factory, fell from a 15ft scaffold to the concrete floor below, and was killed instantly. The inquest showed that the cause of death was concussion of the brain, following a fracture of the base and vault of the skull. The deceased was 33 or 34 years of age, and single. He served with the 5th Reinforcement, returning to New Zealand in April, 1919. -Sun, 3/11/1920.
FALL FROM SCAFFOLDING
A fall from a scaffolding nearly 15ft high on to a solid concrete floor caused the instantaneous death at Henley yesterday morning of Joseph Leo Durham, a single man employed by Messrs Briscoe and Co. as a roof tiler. An inquest on the body was held at the Morgue yesterday afternoon before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M. (sitting as Coroner). Senior-sergeant Murray represented the police.
Dr A. S. Moody, of Outram, deposed that he was called to the scene of the accident, and reached there in about 40 minutes. The deceased was lying on a concrete floor, with his head on one side and blood oozing from his nose and mouth. There was a depressed fracture of the skull over the left frontal bone, and superficial abrasions over the left eye. He was dead, and had been so for between 30 and 40 minutes. He was of opinion that the cause of death was concussion of the brain following the fracture of the base and the vault of the skull. A fall from where hehad been working would account for all his injuries.
John Lavender, tiler, said that deceased had boarded with him at Caversham, and witness thought he was 33 or 34 years of age. He was a single man, and went to the war with the Fifth Reinforcements, returning to New Zealand in April, 1919.
Percy Fifult, tiler's assistant, said he was working at the Henley Dairy Factory, where a new building was being erected. Deceased was wiring tiles on the roof, and was working on a scaffolding inside the roof. Witness did not see the accident. When he saw the deceased, Currie (the carpenter) was holding his head up and he was bleeding at the nose and mouth. Deceased was unconscious. They had been working at the job for a week that day.
Robert Currie, carpenter, who was working on the same job, said the scaffolding consisted of two planks 8in by 1 1/2in and was reached by means of a ladder. Witness thought it was quite safe. He was working on the floor about 30ft away from deceased. Deceased came down the ladder, spoke to witness, and then went up again. The next witness heard was a sharp cry about 10 minutes later. This cry came from up above, and when witness turned he saw deceased falling and within 3ft or 4ft of the floor. The fall was a very heavy one, and deceased struck with his head and shoulder. When witness went to him immediately he was bleeding profusely. There was not a glimmer of consciousness after he fell.
Constable Southgate, of Outram, said he visited the scene of the accident. The scaffolding was 14ft 10in from, the floor, and appeared to be quite safe. Witness was of opinion, judging by the position where the body was found, that deceased had overbalanced and fallen backwards. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died from injuries to the skull received through accidentally falling from a scaffolding on which he wae working to the concrete floor below. -Evening Star, 3/11/1920.
Deaths
DURHAM. — On November 2, at Henley (accidentally), Joseph Leo Durham, of Dunedin; aged 33 years. Deeply regretted. — The Funeral will leave the residence of Mr J. Lavender, 182 Main South road, Caversham, To-morrow (Thursday), the 4th inst., at 2.30 p.m., for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery.— Hope and Kinaston, undertakers. -Evening Star, 3/11/1920.
No comments:
Post a Comment