Sleep-walker's Fall From Express Train

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1948, Page 9

Sleep-walker's Fall From Express Train

NEW PLYMOUTH, June 8. A bridegroom who walked in liis sleep was unexpectedly parted from liis wife of two days wiien he fell from the Auckland-New Plymouth express neai Tangarakau, 011 the Stratford niaiu trunk line, early yesterday morning. The young hoileymooners were travelling iu a first-elass carriage, and tlie husband, who was a sound sleepei and inured to- train travel when e:uploved by the Railways Departmem several years ago, dozed oll". Suddenly, aecording to other passengers, he jumped up and disappeared through the door. The first thing he knew was tliai he was falling into a watertable beside the railwav line. Fortunatelv the train was travelling slowly and he was not liurt, though he was too dazed to reboard the train when he tried. He watched the train disappear into the night, and then a tun nel, which he would not risk, and turned back. The night was frostv and, clad only in grey slaeks, a shirt, pullover and slippers, he was almost frozen. About a quarter of_ a mile along the trade he came to a signal light. His knowledge of the railwav system enabled him" to reach a telephone at Tangarakau and inform railwav officials of his pliglit. He roused a startlec! surfaceman in a hut where he sheltereit and had a eup of tea while waiti ng for a train to take him to Stratford. There he took a taxi to New Plv-mouth-and rejoined his anxious bride at midday..