NORTH OTAGO.
(From our Special Correspondent.)
MARINE PARADE FATALITY.
An inquest touching the death of Francis William Andrew, aged 12 years, who succumbed to injuries received through falling over a cliff at the Marine Parade on Saturday, was held yesterday morning by the coroner, Mr W. H. Frith. — Senior Sergeant Scott conducted the inquiry, and there were present Messrs W. G. Grave, E. A. Fox, and. C. Robertson, members of the Marine Parade Society. — Ronald Young, a lad 13 years of age, residing at No. 7 Torridge street, gave evidence that he went down to the Marine Parade at about 4.30 on Saturday afternoon, accompanied by Frederick Wright and Frank Andrew. They went down to gather fowl grit. They went around close to the last big cliff, following the track all the way around. They were gathering grit when a pigeon flew out of the cliff, and the boy Andrew ran ahead around the corner of the parade, out of their sight. Witness and the other boy followed, and they saw the deceased sliding about a yard off the track out of sight. He was sitting on his feet while sliding. His face was toward the sea, and he slid about another two yards further, and gave a scream and went over the cliff. They could not see how he got into this position, as he was out of sight. The pigeon was at this time flying from the cape out towards the sea. He and his companion ran down to the beach to Andre's assistance and they found him lying on his back groaning. He did not speak and was unconscious. Witness remained with Andrew, and the boy Wright went for assistance. Dr Stubbs arrived, and ordered Andrew’s removal the hospital in the ambulance. The spot where Andrew fell over was a slope for a start, and then a cliff undermined by the sea. Mr W H Grave asked permission to ask witness questions. He said he did not appear for anyone, but was a member of the Marine Parade Society, and thought that the public should know the whole of the circumstances. Permission being granted, witness, in reply to Mr Grave, said that just before the accident they went down to the Ngaio trees, about 15 feet below the track. He admitted that it was a very dangerous thing to do. They did not throw stones over the cliff; but stones went over the cliff from their sliding down to the trees. —To Senior Sergeant Scott witness said the trees were about ten yards from where Andrew went over the cliff. He did not fall over the cliff through going down to the trees. After being down at the trees they returned to the track, and it was after that that the boy Andrew ran after the after the pigeon around the corner. Witness had not been down to the trees before, but he had seen other boys down there once before.
Frederick Thomas Wright, a lad 12 years of age, residing in Tay street, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness as to going around to Fishermans Cove and to the events that took place there, resulting in the boy Andrew falling over the cliff. Witness summoned assistance and a man went for Dr Stubbs. Just before the accident they all went to the trees below the track. There two ladies on the beach and they were watching a dog in the water. They did not throw any stones at the ladies but stones started to roll over when they went down to the trees. They went to the trees to watch the dog, and after leaving the trees they returned to the track, and it was then that Andrew chased the pigeon. To the Coroner witness said they were all running after the pigeon fairly fast. The precipice at the trees was not so high and steep, or so dangerous as where the boy fell over.
Constable McCormick stated that he had inspected the scene of the accident. To get to the parade, he had to go around the powder magazine. There was only a ledge of approximately one foot in width. There was no protection rail or fence there, nor on any part of the parade. The trees were around the bend to the south where the accident occurred. The place where the trees were, was comparatively safe compared with other places, as the trees formed a break, or a sort of fence at the edge of the cliff. Under the trees would be a fall of from 40 to 50 feet. The accident occurred around the north side of the trees. The nature of the soil there was sandy, and broke away easily. Immediately around the bend was a small bight in the track, and anyone travelling fast or running would have to take a sharp turn. The marks showing where the boy went over were in this bight. This point was the highest part o£ the Marine Parade. Witness estimated there would be a fall of approximately 100 feet to the beach from the point where the boy went over. There was a gradual slope of from four to five yards and then a direct drop, there was no protection of any kind on any part of the parade. The track had just been recently made, but he could not state whether it had been completed. or not. The boy had been removed .before witness arrived. — To the coroner, witness said the track was very dangerous and incomplete so far as leaving it open to the public was concerned. — To Mr Grave, witness stated that where the boy went over there was no sign of the track having been broken away. The track at that point was 10 feet wide. — To Senior Sergeant Scott, witness said he considered the track dangerous and unsafe to be open to the public in its present state.
Cuthbert Hamilton Andrew, brother of the deceased, residing at Conway street, gave formal evidence of identification, and stated that his brother had not suffered from any defects and had had good eyesight.
Dr Smith-Morton stated that at 7.30 pm he saw the boy Andrew, who had been admitted to the Oamaru Hospital suffering from injuries. He was a healthy-looking boy and was suffering from profound shock. His body was cold and clammy and his pulse was almost imperceptible. He had a compound facture of the right upper arm and there was some evidence of internal injury. He was treated for shock but failed to respond, and died about 10.35 p.m. He did not regain consciousness. The cause of death was shock following his injuries.
Senior Sergeant Scott intimated that the ladies on the beach did not witness the accident, and so could not assist the inquiry.
The coroner stated that there could be only one verdict - that deceased, Francis William Andrew, met his death by a accidental fall over a cliff on Marine Parade. Apart from that there were phases of the question very important from the public point of view, particularly as to the evidence of Constable McCormick. He himself had noticed a big piece of rock jutting out of the track that struck him as being very dangerous indeed. It seemed to him imperative that the people responsible should see that that piece of rock was taken away. He also understood that it was the intention of the committee to remove the powder magazine. That was a very dangerous place. These things should be attended to without delay. He thought it his duty as coroner, to warn the public about these dangerous points. The committee might put up a notice. A lady had told him that boys had ridden bicycles and had even raced on them on the Marine Parade. Anyone doing that on the Marine Parade was looking for trouble, and perhaps the committee could put up a notice forbidding bicycles on the parade. He would warn parents against allowing children to go there by themselves. It was certainly no place for young people to play. He extended, his sincere sympathy to the relatives. The fatality had cast a gloom over the whole place and had cast a shadow over the Marine Parade. The thing in itself was a noble idea to help the town, but they must help to safeguard the public. He would ask the press to report his appeal to the public to take every care to avoid a repetition of what had occurred that day. -Otago Daily Times, 17/12/1929.
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