NARROW ESCAPE FOR PARACHUTIST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 50, 22 November 1937, Page 8

NARROW ESCAPE FOR PARACHUTIST

•PrcsB Association.)

Just Manages to Miss Glass Roof LANDS IN GARDEN PLOT

(By Telegrapb-

* AUCKLAND, Last Nigbt. Jumping out of an aeroplane wbCn it was only 1000ft. above tbe Auckland Domain on Saturday morning tbe wellknown paracbutist, G. W. Sellars, bad a. narrow escape from serious injury wben be was able to sway bis paracbute just in time to avoid crashing through tbe glass roof of part of tbe winter garden. As it was be landed beavily into a small garden plot alongside tbe conerete patb and jarred himself considerably. Tbe jump was aTranged as part of a Fatber Christnias gift distribution for children that bad been organised by a prominent Auckland firm. Mr. .Sellars was to land on tbe outer domain as Father Cbristmas and was tben to assist witb tbe distribution of toys on tbe ground. He was taken up iu an aeroplane piloted by Lieut. Allen and made bis jump wben tbe macbine was only 1000ft. up iu order to give tbe children an additional thrill. The aeroplane was so low tbat tbe spectators, of wbom tbere were several thousand on tbe nearby banks, were able to distinguisb bis form very clearly as he stood on tbe wing before jumping off. Tbere was a fairly strong south-westcr-. ly wind at 1000ft. and tbis immediately • blew Mr; Sellars from tbe direction be intended to take. Tben as be came down into tbe sbelter of tbe surrounding trees tbe still air caused bim to drop more quickly and be landed very beavily. Wbile tbe paracbute was falling Mr. Sellars could be seen vigorously attempting to counteract tbe effect of tbe wind and so land on level ground. He' obviously saw tbe danger of falling into tbe winter garden and fougbt. to swing tbe paracbute away from it. Until be was jyithin a few yards of tbe Toof, bowever, it seemed almost certain tbat be was going to fall on the glass and it was only in tbe last few seconds that he was able to avoid it. He tben disappeared from tbe view of tbe spectators and fell into a garden patcb between two hothouses. Only a few moments before two gardeners bad been bedding plants tbere and by tbe time Mr. Sellars bad disentagled himself from tbe parachute and bundreds of children and adults bad dasbed up to see wbat bad happencd tbe garden was almost wrecked. Mr. Sellars meanwhile bad found tbat bis Fatber Cbristmas beard bad .been twisted awry by tbe fall, and be .was limping into sbelter to fix it before jreturning to assist witb the gift distri"bution wbicb be did in spite of bis 'nerve-racking experience.