FALL IN TUNNEL.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1925, Page 3

FALL IN TUNNEL.

ONE MAN KILLED. IIV TEE EG HATH —PER I’ll IMS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, Nov. 24. Owen Ward, aged 10, employed on railway tunnel construction work near St. Helier's Bay. by tile Public Works’ Department was killed by a fall of earth a little after midnight. Ward was got out quickly by his mates, hut on the doctor’s arrival life was extinct. There were five men in the tunnel when about twenty tons of papa, mostly huge boulders, fell completely burying Ward, who had gone on shift half an hour previously. The other four men. U. Barrett (shift boss), N. McDonald. N. Souter and -T. Priavich. working in the tunnel bean’ the erai king of the timber in time to run clear and escaped uninjured. They immediately set (about uncovering Ward, and got hint out after twenty minutes. Ward spoke to his rescuers before lie died. Ward was an exjierienei'd tunnelVr. having worked in four other tnnicls previously. It is understood he has a brother at Tokoniaru Bay. The fall of papa, which left a huge tap in the roof of the tunnel. consisted of a number of lug rocks, one weighing about five tons. Tho centre pole holding up the siijiinrting timber was caught in the downfall. Aj inireiitly Ward had started to • im. tint was caiigln on the outside of lb- fall.