SEAPLANE & CRUISER

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1930, Page 2

SEAPLANE & CRUISER

ACCIDENT ON: THE GREAT BARRIER ISLAND. . AUCKLAND, Dec. 4. Both the Fairey III.F -seaplane and the cruiser Dunedin played parts yesterday in aiding Trevor Wilson, a seaman who was injured on the Great Barrier island, and who was brought to .the Auckland Hospital.

Wilson, who is aged 18, received severe injuries to his left arm and to Ills back, through being caught in a winch while assisting in loading firewood on the scow Alma, which was anchored in Catherine Bay, on the north coast of the Island.

The .accident occurred ,at about 11 j o’clock yesterday morning. The Auckland office of J. J. C'aig, Limited, received a telegram advising them of the accident shortly after mid-day, and Mr J. L. Hanna immediately telephoned to Hobsonville to see if a seaplane would' be availah’e. He was told that the Fairey lII.F. would he- ready ns soon ns a doctor could reach the Base, nnd Dr. T. Harold Pettit, medical adviser of the firm made a fast journey to Hobsonville, WIRELESS TO CRUISER. In the meantime, Mr Hanna, realising that H.M.S Dunedin was exercising in the Haurftki Gulf telephoned the Devonport Naval Base, to see if any assistance could be gained from the vessel, The Dunedin was scheduled to call at Port F»t*roy, a few miles furthep. pound the coaHt of t|ie Great Barrier, npd it was instructed, by wireless from Devonport to proceed to Catherine Bay. Dr Pettit left the Hobsonville Base at 8.40 in the seaplane, which was piloted by Flight-Lieutenant S. Walling ford, and just before arriving at t\e island the machine passed over tip Duned n, which then was .steaming at a good speed. The island was reached in just under 30 minutes. The doctor, found that the youth’s hand and arm were severely mangled, the hand being almost severed below the wrist. CRUISER RACES, TO SCENE.. Dr Pettit, considered it- would he in the patient’s "interests to be left for transportation by the war -ship. News of the accident was received by the Dunedin about 3 o’clock; but it was not-until Surgeon-Commander T. J. O’Riordan was landed a few hours later that the seriousness of the case was realised. The Commodore’s barge being the most comfortable conveyance was used to transferr the injured youth to the Dunedin, and at about 7 o’clock the warship was steaming for Auckland* Advice,was received by H.M.S. Philomel that the Dunedin expected to reach Auckland at 10.20 p.m. and it was on’y three minutes after that time that she .anchored in the stream, her average speed having been about 20 knots,

fhe youth, who throughout h « ordeal hftd remained epnHoipus .was admitted to the hospital at 11 o’clock , Tfieto is every likelihood that it will be necessary to amputate tjie injured hand,