LEG AMPUTATED WITH CLASP KNIFE.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 April 1918, Page 7

LEG AMPUTATED WITH CLASP KNIFE.

How with an ordinary clasp-knife a ship’s steward amputated an injured man’s leg in a sinking vessel which ; had been torpedoed is officially told in connection with the award of the Albert Medal in gold to Mr. Alfred Williain Furneaux, a chief steward in the merchant service. "In April, 1917/’ says the account,, "the steamship in which Mr. Furneaux was serving was torpedoed by the enemy, and a Lascar who was on the spot where certain deck plates had buckled and broken had his legs so firmly caught between the plates that he would have gone down with the ship. ‘‘ Mr Furneaux, however, went to the man’s assistance and nianagcd to got one leg out but the other was nearly severed through above the knee. Finding it impossible to pull his leg out, Mr Furneaux amputated it with an ordinary clasp-knife and then carried the man to the boat. When in the boat he dressed the wound as well as possible, and gave the litebelt, he was wearing to the wounded man. Mr Furneaux also rendered first aid in the boat to another Lascar, who was badly' scalded. Mr. Furneaux was in imminent danger of losing his life in rendering the service.’ ’