MISHAP ON WAIOPEHU.

Shannon News, 6 December 1927, Page 2

MISHAP ON WAIOPEHU.

FALL CAUSES DISLOCATED KNEE Tripping over a stump, Mr George ; France, of Levin, fell in such a way as to dislocate one of his knees while coming from the summit of Mt. Waiopehu down to the Hampers’ hut site yesterday afternoon. lie was walking in advance of Messrs W. Peters, M. Coker and- 11. Bull, the party having made file ascent that morning after passing die night at Palmer’s Camp. They took some materials up to the site of ' the proposed hut .for the Levin-Waiopehu Club, and passed on for about threequarters of a mile, to the leather-leaf country. The accident happened when Mr France had proceeded some 50 yards on the return journey, the time being about a quarter to. two. It appears that the ground was somewhat boggy, causng him to slip on it and then stumble over a stump. The other members of the party each made several attempts to reduce the dislocation, but Avithout success, and eventually the strongest of their number, Mr W. Peters, carried the injured man on his back to the hut site, where there is a tent, in which Mr France was placed. Mr Bull stayed with him, and Messrs Peters and Coker, who were joined on the way down by Mr Bert Richards, proceeded to Levin, travelling from the pipe bridge in the cars of Messrs Peters and France. The police were informed of the mishap, and rescue parties were organised, which left for Waiopehu this morning, one party taking its departure at 5 a.m., and thc other at 8 a.m. It was not considered advisable for a doctor to make the trip to the summit, as the injury would have to be treated with the aid of anaesthetic, which would probably leave the patient in a state unfit for the rough journey down, the mountain track. The first party took a stretcher with them, and the members of the second party are acting as a relief in carrying Mr France out.