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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 28 Mar 1934
Page 3 Column 7
KILLED BY FALLING BRANCH.
NORTH CURRY FATALITY.
INQUEST EVIDENCE.
A verdict of accidental death was returned by the West Somerset Coroner (Mr. G. P. CLARKE) at the inquest on Friday afternoon, on Alfred BUCKLAND, aged forty-four, licensee of the Rising Sun Inn, Knapp, North Curry, who died as the result of injuries received when he was knocked down by a falling limb of a poplar tree. The accident was witnessed by his daughter, a girl of 14, who is now left an orphan, as her mother died about two years ago. Mr. BUCKLAND, in view of the dangerous position of the tree in front of the inn, gave instructions for it to be limbed, and it was while assisting in removing fallen branches that he unfortunately failed to get clear in time after a warning from a man working in the tree.
Miss Helen BUCKLAND, who gave evidence of identification, described how she was looking from the window of the inn on Tuesday watching the man at work on the tree when a branch fell and rebounded off the road, and knocked her father down. He fell heavily on the back of his head. The man working in the tree had previously shouted a warning. Deceased was attentded <sic> by Dr. SATCHELL, who later in the day ordered his removal to the hospital.
INJURIES TO BRAIN.
Dr. C. B. MILLER, house surgeon, stated that when admitted to the Taunton and Somerset Hospital deceased was unconscious. There were no external signs of injury, the supposition being that he was suffering from injuries to the brain. In the early house of the morning his condition became worse, and it was decided to operate with a view to stopping hemorrhage. While deceased was being prepared for the operation he suddenly had an extra bad hemorrhage, and died in the ward. A post-mortem examination revealed damage to the brain substance, cerebral compression, and fracture of the base of the vault of the skull. These injuries were the cause of death, and were consistent with the description of the accident.
Wm. PROLE, farm labourer, of North Curry, and James LENTHALL, old age pensioner, of North Curry, gave evidence as to how the accident happened. The latter said he himself only got clear just in time.
The Coroner returned a verdict as stated, and expressed sympathy with Miss BUCKLAND.