South Yorkshire Times March 1, 1947

Denaby Man Died in Pit
Comrades First Aid

A Conisbrough deputy, Edward Brown, Fullerton Avenue, Conanby, and a Denaby miner, Arthur Spooner, Rossington Street, were complemented at a Denaby inquest on Monday for the prompt manner in which they performed first aid on Frederick Gerald Tedby (59), bye worker. 9 Maltby Street, Denaby, who died suddenly in Denaby Main colliery on Friday.

Mr J. Halford. Colliery manager told the Doncaster district coroner (Mr W. H. Carlile) that he wished to pay tribute to the men for the very able way they applied first aid and tried to save the life of this unfortunate workman.

On behalf of the Denaby main branch and the National Union of Mineworkers, Coun J. T. E. Collins, also expressed appreciation of what had been done, and added,

“It is regrettable that we have lost another workman who could have carried on for another six years. We are very short of men in the mining industry and we do not want to lose any.”

A son-in-law. William Edward Wassell, miner, 9 Maltby Street, Denaby, said that Tedby was in his usual state of health on Thursday. As far as witness knew he had had good health. He was off work for two weeks during January, but resumed work on January 29.

Edward Brown, deputy, Fullerton Avenue, Conanby, with whom Tedby was working on the night shift last Thursday in the north-west district of the Parkgate seam, said Tedby made no complaints. He was with witness getting some “stemming” on the machine face, work which was termed as “light work.” About 4:30 a.m. Tedby went to fetch some “stemming” while witness examined the shot hole, and after he had gone sometime witness saw him about 2 yards away on his knees.

Brown said, with Spooner’s assistance, he applied artificial respiration for 10 minutes and then moved him out by about 15 or 20 yards and continued artificial respiration there. Witness sent for a stretcher and the over man and requested that an ambulance man should go down the pit. Tedby was put on the stretcher and carried out of the pit.

Brown told the Coroner that there was no sign of a fall. Dr Malcolm George Pearson, pathologist. Doncaster said cause of death was coronary thrombosis. The prime cause of Tedby’s condition was a disease of the arteries, but the work he was doing must have accelerated his death.

A verdict of “accidental death” was recorded.