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From "The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald" dated 5th February 1965.
Mr. John Gunn, 53 Barrie Terrace, Ardrossan, was struck by a steel plate while engaged in his work as a docker at Ardrossan Harbour on Tuesday.
He was removed to Kilmarnock Infirmary.
From "The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald" dated 12th February 1965.
DOCKER DIES FROM INJURIES
Mr. James Gunn (62) 53 Barrie Terrace, Ardrossan, who, as reported in our last weeks issue, was injured while engaged in his work as a docker at Ardrossan Harbour on Tuesday 2nd. February, died in Kilmarnock Infirmary last Friday as a result of his injuries.
Mr. Gunn had been struck by a steel plate while discharging cargo from a ship in the harbour.
He is survived by his wife and family.
From "The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald" dated 2nd April 1965
DOCKER STRUCK BY FALLING STEEL PLATE
Formal verdict returned
While steel plates were being loaded by cranes on to S.S. Lairdsburn at Ardrossan Harbour on 2nd February, some of the plates fell from the cranes on to the deck of the ship and struck John Fleming Gunn, a docker.
Mr. Gunn was removed to Kilmarnock Infirmary where he died on 5th February.
At a Fatal Accident Inquiry conducted by Sheriff Substitute Thomas M. Croan, held at Kilmarnock last Friday, a jury, after hearing evidence, returned a formal verdict.
The first witness was Mr. Anthony
Martin, 31 Dykesmains Road, Saltcoats, Harbour Foreman at Ardrossan.
In evidence he said that two cranes were being used to load the plates; they were working together and were using slings; the plates were held by clamps.
He was ashore and heard a rattle of falling sheets; then he heard shouts coming from the ship.
It appeared to him that the grip of one of the cranes had come loose.
John Gunn was acting as hatchman that day and he seemed to be lying underneath a plate and some men were lifting the plate.
He organised arrangements to get the injured man ashore and after receiving first-aid, Mr. Gunn was removed to Kilmarnock Infirmary.
SAW PLATES FALL
Mr. James McKay, 38 St. Andrews Road, Ardrossan, said that he was acting as hatchman at the forward end; John Gunn was hatchman at the after end.
Steel plates had been shipped from Ardrossan for years and he had known them, on occasion, to slip from the clamps.
On the day of the accident he saw some smaller plates begin to fall and he shouted a warning.
Some of the plates went into the hold, and one, about 10ft by 4ft struck Gunn.
Cross-examined, witness said that Gunn was standing between the side of the ship and the hatch.
He had to stand there as he could not have done his work from the after coaming.
John O'Hare, 2b Central Avenue, Ardrossan, said that he had been operating one of the cranes loading the Lairdsburn.
When two cranes were working together the cranemen had to be very careful and four clamps were used on each crane to secure the load.
The heave was being lowered into the hold when the load separated and the only reason for this was that the plates were not interlocked enough; the clamps had been gripping all right.
The plates ought to have been closer together and the load ought not to have been so long.
Five plates had come away from the main load and four fell into the hatch.
PROPERLY FASTENED
Cross-examined, Mr. O'Hare said that in his opinion Mr. Gunn could have have positioned himself on the after coaming.
"If I had been doing his job, that is where I would have been."
Charles McLaughlan, 12 Stanley Road, Ardrossan, said he was fastening the clamps and they were all properly fastened.
John Brown, 72 Stanley Road, Ardrossan, said he was first-aid man at Ardrossan Harbour and he had attended to John Gunn after the accident.
He had a laceration on the right wrist, a cut on his eye and he complained that his shoulder was sore.
After attention, he had been taken to Kilmarnock Infirmary.
John Fairbrother, 39 Lumsden Place, Stevenston, said that he was in charge of the cargo handling gear at Ardrossan Harbour.
At the time of the accident, four sets of slings and clamps were being used.
The gear had been checked on the morning of the accident and was in good order.
After the accident the gear was re-examined and was still in good order.
In answer to Sheriff Substitute T. M. Croan, witness said that he himself had examined the gear on the morning of the accident.
Angus Gunn, 53 Barrie Terrace, said that his father died in Kilmarnock Infirmary on 5th February.
The cause of death stated on the death certificate was gross trauma of the right lung and chronic bronchitis. |
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