RESCUE FROM TANKER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31118, 22 July 1966, Page 1

RESCUE FROM TANKER

Ambulanceman Takes Oxygen (New Zealand Press Association* AUCKLAND, July 21. A senior officer of the St. John Ambulance Association had to use an oxygen resuscitator on himself as well as on his patient during a tricky rescue at Mechanics Bay today.

“It was one whiff

for him, one whiff for me,” said Station Officer V. R. Watson,

to the Auckland Hospital, where he was treated and discharged. "The fumes were really strong,” said Mr Watson. “I am sure I would have collapsed too if I had not been able to give myself whiffs of oxygen from the resuscitator.”

who was called from the city wharves when a man collapsed after being overcome by detergent fumes in a confined railway oil tanker.

Mr Watson said he was in the tanker about 20 minutes and had to send other men out before they collapsed. Mr Watson praised another workman, Mr W. Hoeft, who dragged Mr Martin half the length of the 6300-gallon tank, passing him under several low stabilising baffles. A third workman, Mr V. H. Speck, escaped from the tank feeling dizzy and gave the alarm when he realised Mr Martin was still inside the tank. A representative of Steam Cleaning Service, Ltd., which employs Mr Martin and Mr Speck, said the tank required extra cleaning. It had been used to carry black fuel oil during the recent stoppage by petrol tanker drivers.

The man, Samuel Martin, aged 22, of Otara, was taken

The sun had heated the tank and the men had been overcome by detergent fumes. A lack of wind had prevented the men from rigging a wind-sock ventilator on the top of the tank.