Frederick Henry GUNTER [782]

   Cause of his death was Fracture of the spine diving into shallow water.

  General Notes:

1873 NZ birth 1873/4804; 1873/18421 Gunter Frederick Henry Jane Frederick
1892 Victoria Australia Death 15144/1892 - father: blacksmith

South Australian Register Saturday 28 July 1883
IMMIGRANTS PER ROMSDAL.
The undermentioned immigrants sailed from Plymouth per Romsdal on May 24, and are expected to arrive at Port Adelaide about the middle of August:-
Married Couples and their Children who will be open for Hire on Arrival.-
. . . . Fredk. Gunter, blacksmith, Jane, Frederick, Helen, Rose, and John Gunter; . . . .

The Argus (Melbourne) Thursday 1 Dec 1892
A FATAL DIVE.
On Tuesday evening, at about half past 8 o'clock, a young man named Frederick Henry Gunter, accompanied by his father visited the torpedo jetty at Port Melbourne for the purpose of gathering mussels and bathing. The younger man dived into the water, but did not reappear, and his father then jumped in and brought him to the surface. Assistance was procured, when it was found that the young man had struck the sand and fractured his neck, his upper and lower extremities being paralysed. He was conveyed to his home at Clarke- street Port Melbourne, and Dr Cuscaden was sent for but could do nothing for him and he died yesterday afternoon. It is stated by the deceased's father that he had bathed at the same place several times before, and he thought there was about 6ft of water but on this occasion there could not have been more than 2ft, probably owing to the shifting nature of the sand.

The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Thu 1 Dec 1892 Page 7
A FATAL DIVE.
A young man named Frederick Henry Gunter, blacksmith, residing at 90 Clark-street, Port Melbourne, died last night from injuries to his spine, occasioned by diving into about 2 feet of water from off the torpedo jetty, it appears that deceased, who was aged 19 years, went down the pier mentioned to collect mussels in company with his father on Tuesday night. With the intention of having a swim he dived off the pier and misjudged the depth of the water, apparently striking his head with considerable force on the bottom. The father got him out of the water and took him home on a sretcher. Dr. Cuscaden was called in, and found the unfortunate man was suffering from complete paralysis of the upper and lower extremities, caused by the fraoture of the spine. He became comatose, and died as stated.

  Other Records

• Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, Stoke Poges Burnham Bkm. Frederick is recorded as a son aged 7 a scholar bn Oamaru NZ