“LUCKIEST MAN ALIVE.”

Shannon News, 7 October 1927, Page 3

“LUCKIEST MAN ALIVE.”

FALL FROM 110 FEET. REMARKABLE JESCAPE. Sydney, Sept. 16. '‘l’ll admit I am the luckiest man alive to-dav,” said John French, after he had been safely hauled to the gr-ouuc from a fall from 110 feet high, wliic was broken jn an amazing man lor. HY aided that the experience was one In lid not wish to repeat .

French, with three other riggers, was working on a chimney stack at .lie State eoal mine when one of tin caffolding ropes gave way, and he w;r precipitated head fn-h into 'pace. Hi hree companions maneg-ai to main fain a precarious ho’d, but'they natuv lily expected that French uas'doomeo But. on looking over, they maivolleu to see him swinging in space from the glittering of a roof 50 feet below and 60 feet from the ground. In his hurtling downwards flight the foe of his boot had caught on the guttering of the building, and, despite the severe wrench, it managed vo hold, while French had the presence of mine to keep still, although his body wa ; swayed by the rather strong wind which blew.

His plight, of course, immediately noticed, and quickly he was held by ropes made into a “bo’sun’s” cradle and lelcascd.

Asked as to his,feelings, French said that when descending he felt like a human bullet, while his suspension was terrifying, as every moment he expected to fall.

His injuries arc negligible. In his flight the blood rushed to his head, and lie bled rather profusely at the nose; bijt his only rial injury is a sprained foot. However, not unnaturally, he is suffering severely from shock.