TWO MEN HURT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 53, 25 May 1927, Page 13

TWO MEN HURT

OTHERS ESCAPE

MISHAP IN SHIP’S HOLD

FALLING RAILS

: T"’o men were severely injured and i several others had marvellous escapes from Injury when some heavy steel rails broke loose and fell into the hold of the Wingatui, where the men were working, this morning. The injured men were: DONALD MacDONALD, aged 45, married, of Hawea Road, Point Chevalier. DAVID RIERCHALT, aged 56, single, of 108 Grey Street. Rierchalt is suffering from severe injuries to his left leg and shock, and MacDonald has three of his ribs broken. Both men were immediately conveyed to the Auckland Hospital by the St. John Ambulance. Both men were wharf labourers, employed by the Union Steam Ship Company in unloading the cargo from the Wingatui at the Prince’s Wharf, at Ml o’clock this morning. Along with several other men they were working down in the hold under No. 2 hatch. A sling full of heavy rails for the Railway Department was being hoisted out of the hold. As the crane hoisted the rails the sling bumped against the side of the hold, loosening the rails. A further bump on the hatch as the sling swung upward released the rails, which tumbled back into the hold with a crash. The men were preparing another sling of rails ready for hoisting, and did not hear the warning cry of their mates, who saw what was happening, and yelled to them to get clear. MacDonald and Rierchalt were struck by the falling rails, but fortunately the other men escaped. The two injured men were lifted out of the hold by the crane and taken to the hospital.