AMBULANCE IN FLOOD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 141, 2 July 1937, Page 9

AMBULANCE IN FLOOD

Associatlon i

Driver's Arduous Task at Auckland

(By Telegraoh

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The duties of an Auckland St. John Ambulan^e driver were rendered arduous this af ternoon when a call to Orewa was received. The ambulanco was dispatched to bring a patient from Orewa to the Auckland Hospital and an unusual dept-h of water was encountered in places during the journey. ' * The progress of the ambulance was halted at Dairy Flat where the water was over the railing of the bridge across the river. As it was impossible to take the ambulance across the flood water the driver (Mr. H. Ryan) accepted the offer of a member of the Automobile Association patrol to convey the patient from Orewa to Dairy Elat by caT. Mr. Ryan was drenched.to the skin in fording the Tiver. On arriving at Silverdale he was met by the district nurse who reported that a boy cyclist had crashed into the back of a stationary car, receiving severe head injuries. The driver's problem was solved when a paSsing motoTist volunteered to bring the boy to the ambulance which had bequ left on the Auckland side of Dairy E!at. Mr. Ryan accompanied tfce motorist on this part of the journey, while the district nurse and the Automobile Association patrol proceeded to Orewa for the other patient. When the boy was brought to Dairy Elat the water had subsided considerably and Mr. Ryan succeeded in driving the ambulance across. Just. as the boy was transferred to the ambulance the other patient arrived and they were both brought back to Auckland, reaching the city at 4.45 p.m. [u spile of the fact that.Mr. Ryan was ! able to bring the ambulance suceessfully across the bridge the drivers of about 30 cars held up on either side of tlie bridge had not attempted to negotiate the flooded ei'ossing up to the time (he ambulance left for Auckland.