NURSE'S HEROISM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 543, 29 May 1933, Page 3

NURSE'S HEROISM

A DYING YOUTH DESPERATE RESCUE IN WILD OUT-BACK s COUNTRY LAST WORDS OF-THANKS Sydney, Saturday. "Thank you, gentlemen," gasped •Kenneth Hands, as he feebly beckoned his rescuers to him; then he again lost conscious — never to regain it. Hands, aged 20 was the victim of the Burragorang Valley shooting accident, and died at Camden Hospital at 8.30 a.m. yesterday. He lived in Warren Road, Bellevue Hill and was an employee of A.W.A. The story of the tragedy and a nurse's heroism was related yesterday over long-distance telephone by Ray Parsons, clerk of Macpherson Street, Cremorne, who with Walter Munro, 20, unemployed camper, left "Mountain View" guest house, Bimlow, on Friday for a day's fox shooting. The three had separated in rough country — Hands with his rifle slung across his back. The others heard the rifle go off. "My God. I've been shot!" cried Hands, collapsing. Parsons and Munroe carried him some- distance to flat land; then Munroe xaced six miles back to Bimlow for help. Munroe returned with Bill Morgan, of "Mountain," and Nurse Bennett, a guest there. They had run the six miles with first-aid appliances, with which the nurse treated Hand's .wound.. The bullet had entered his spine and passed through the abdomen. When they ran out of bandages the rescuers tore up their shirts. They pulled saplings up by the roots to construct a stretcher, using Parson's trousers and a spare pair worn by Morgan as a "mattress." With the nurse walking ahead and breaking down brushes, Morgan and Parsons carried the wounded man up .and down gorges, while Munro rushed back for more help. Parsons had tied his singlet around his loins. His trousers suddenly ripped under Hand's' weight. Munro returned with Bill Morgan, jun. and Bill Bruce, and they constructed a new stretcher with an axe and some chaffbags. The wounded youth was caried across Wollondilly River over his rescuers' heads, and one of the party returned for Nurse Bennett, and carried her across on his shoulders. Hands had not complained once, but half a mile from the guest house he became unconscious. As he was placed on a bed at "Mountain View" he came to, raised one hand, and beckoned his rescuers to thank them.