Edwin Percy Cook

The two men, employed by the Notting Hill Electrical Light Company, were in Addison Avenue looking for a manhole. They made an enquiry with a shopkeeper who pointed out the only one he knew but informed them that it was a ‘dead sewer’. Pressing on the men lifted the cover and one entered by the steps but, overcome by gas, he then fell into the water. The second man immediately went to his aid but also collapsed. The shopkeeper called the police and PC Cook arrived, placed a handkerchief around his mouth and went to rescue both men. Firemen then arrived and, wearing gas masks, brought all three men out but the two men were dead and PC Cook was barely breathing. An ambulance was called to take him to hospital but he died en route.