Thomas Garland MacLean, (1909-12/12/1931). "heard a sound of gasping"

INQUESTS

A SUDDEN COLLAPSE.

An inquest, touching the death of Thomas Garland MacLean, who died suddenly at Caversham on Saturday morning whilst working on a motor car, was opened at the residence of his parents, Burnett street, Caversham, yesterday morning, Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., sitting as coroner.

Evidence of identification was given by William Langlands Mac Lean, a brother of the deceased, who stated that the latter was 22 years of age, and had always enjoyed good health. The deceased arrived home from work about 12.30 p.m. on Saturday, and after he had had dinner he went out to work on his Ford car, which he kept in a vacant section near the house. The car had no self-starter, and on the day in question the deceased had. procured some dry-cell batteries to assist in starting it. When witness went over to the car about 1.20 p.m. the deceased had the battery connected and was trying to start the car. It started easily, but stopped again, and the deceased commenced to find out what was wrong. Witness heard a sound of gasping, and on looking round he saw the deceased lying on the ground near the front of the car. Witness thought he had fainted, and ran for water. Dr Murray was summoned, and the deceased was carried to the house. 

The father of the deceased, Thomas Langlands MacLean, stated that, with the exception of a slight attack of influenza about a month ago, his son had enjoyed good health. When the previous witness came to the house and said that his brother had taken a fit witness went at once to the section, where he found the deceased lying by the car. He showed no signs of life. 

At this stage the magistrate ordered a post-mortem examination, and adjourned the inquest until the afternoon at the courthouse.

On resuming, Dr M. N. Watt, clinical pathologist at the Dunedin Medical School, gave evidence that the port-mortem revealed that the deceased’s heart was dilated, toxic, and flabby, and in his opinion death was caused by heart failure due to toxic changes aggravated by influenza and over-exertion after a heavy meal.

A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.  -Otago Daily Times, 15/12/1931.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.