Biography

Known as Louis. On 5 September, Luigi Zanotti sustained severe lacerations of one leg while working on the Sons of Gwalia mine. He and another miner were lowering a kibble attached to a rope, but the kibble proved to be too heavy and they were unable to hold it. The running rope passed around Zanotti's leg which was cut to the bone and on 10 September, it became necessary to amputate the limb. Zanotti died shortly after the operation was performed. In late September, the Acting Coroner, Mr J.C. Semken, received instructions to hold an inquest concerning the death of Luigi Zanotti, who had died in the Leonora Hospítal seven weeks before, following an amputation of his leg. The body was exhumed on Wednesday 7 October and the inquest was formally opened. At the inquest, Dr. N. B. Watch medical officer for the Gwalia Medical Fund, said that on the 5th September, he saw the deceased lying on the plat at the Sons of Gwalia mine. He was suffering from a severe laceration of the left thigh, which extended :round two-thirds of the circumference of the limb. The Doctor attended to the wound and had the deceased conveyed to the surface. He was further treated at the surgery and removed to the Leonora Hospital. There. Dr Watch operated on the deceased, assisted by Dr. McCall, R.M.O. From September 6 to 10, the deceased gradually grew worse and the wound becoming dangerous, it was decided to amputate. The operation was performed by Dr Watch, assisted by Dr. McCall. After the operation, the deceased sank and died within half an hour. The jury, after a brief retirement, returned the following verdict: "That the deceased, Luigi Zanotti, met his death by means of a laceration of the thigh by a rope, which necessitated amputation, and that no blame was attachable to anyone."