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An inquest was held on George Norton (60), of 233 Sycamore Street, Ashington, who died in the Ashington Hospital on April 1st as the result of injury received at Woodhorn Colliery. The inquiry was conducted by Mr. Hugh J. Percy, Coroner for North Northumberland.

J. R. Bell, of 11 Bolsover Street, Ashington, miner, gave evidence of identification. He visited the Ashington Hospital and there viewed the body of deceased and identified it as that of his father-in-law. His hearing and eyesight were normal. He just wore glasses for reading. He had no disability. He had been employed as a coal miner during the best part of his working life.

Dr. D. R. Bell, surgeon at the Ashington Hospital, said that Norton was admitted to hospital on February 28th, with a compound fracture of the left fibula, and that the injury was caused as the result of fall of stone. An operation was successfully performed. He recovered and was discharged on March 2nd. On March 9th he was again sent in. He complained of a pain on the right side of his chest. On 11th March the condition of the fracture was quite satisfactory. He was very distressed, and he gave up a small quantity of blood. He died on April 1st. There was nothing to indicate what death was.

A post-mortem was made and it was found that death was due to pulmonary embolus and a compound fracture of the left fibula, being a complication of the surgical operation.

In answer to Mr. A. S. Richards, colliery manager, the doctor said that the injury called a compound fracture was a cracked bone, but not a complete fracture.

Fall Of Stone

Alfred Bullimore, deputy, 31 Katherine Street, Ashington, said he was in the five-quarter seam at Woodhorn Colliery. The accident occurred on February 25th. At three o'clock in the afternoon he was at his station when deceased came to him and reported that he had hurt his leg through a stone falling. The deceased showed him his leg, and said the stone had fallen from the roof on to his leg.

He found a deep wound just above the ankle. It had stopped bleeding. Witness said he dressed the wound. He thought the man was sufficiently bad to be sent out. He walked on without the aid of a stick. He visited the place where the accident happened and saw a man pulling the stone out. It was a yard long and about a foot in thickness. It was lying on the floor where the deceased had been working.

Coroner : Do you know what caused the stone to fall away like that? Witness: I think he was taking coal away when fell. There was plenty of timber about and plenty timber set.

Christopher Mann, a coal filler, of Chestnut Street, Ashington, said that he helped to lift the stone off his legs. He just heard the deceased shout "Chris," as if shouting for assistance. He went immediately to the spot and found the stone on his leg. He was sitting with his back towards the coal. The stone which had fallen from the roof was on one leg. He removed the stone at once. Deceased took off his shoes and stocking and he (witness) saw the deep cut in the ankle. The stone had fallen between the new cut. The timber was about a yard apart.

Coroner (to deputy): If the deceased had been wearing the safety boots would that have saved him. — Witness : I don't think so for the wound was too far up.

Is it one of those unforeseen accidents? — Yes.

The Coroner; The cause of death is misadventure. He recorded the following verdict:—

That the cause of death was pulmonary embolus sequel to a surgical operation for a compound fracture of the left fibular accidentally sustained by deceased in February 25th, at Woodhorn Colliery, owing to a fall of stone from the roof, which fell on deceased's foot whilst he was following his employment as a coal filler.

 

Name	Age	Occupation	Notes
Bell, D. R., Dr.		Surgeon
Bell, J. R.		Miner
Bullimore, Alfred		Deputy
Mann, Christopher		Coal Filler
Norton, George	60	Miner	Deceased, Individual Page
Percy, Hugh J.		Coroner
Richards, Arthur Stanton Edgcome		Colliery Manager	Whos Who Page

 

Woodhorn Colliery