SHOOTING ACCIDENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1938, Page 6

SHOOTING ACCIDENT

WELLINGTON MAN INJURED AT WANGAEHU

STRENUOUS STRETCHER JOURNEY A shooting accident occurred at Wangaehu on Sunday afternoon, as the result of which, Mr Cyril Beard, a middle-aged man, > employed in the wool store of Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Wellington, was accidentally' wounded in the back. Mr Beard, in company with several companions was out shooting rabbits, and the party was just about to return to the car, when the accident occurred. It is stated that a lad named M. W. Clark, of Masterbon. 154 years of age, was loading one of the rifles, when it accidentally discharged, the bullet entering Mr Beard’s back. Mr Beard was standing only a few yards away. Several hours later, after a strenuous journey by stretcher-bearers through' rough country, and in heavy rain, Mr Beard was admitted to a private hospital in Masterton. The other members of the party, besides the lad Clark, were Messrs W. G Wilson, Northland Road, Wellington and P. G. L. Coogan, Newtown.

Though ill-equipped for rendering first aid, the party did all it could to make the injured man comfortable, and Mr Wilson set out for the homestead of Mr H. H. Mawley, Bagshot, to seek assistance. Almost a week’s continued rain had made the ground extremely slippery, and this, together with the broken nature of the country and the fact that the injured man had to be moved in darkness, made the return to the homestead particularly slow and arduous. It was about 10 p.m. before they reached Mr Mawley’s house. Mr Beard was removed by ambulance to a private hospital in Masterton, after receiving attention from Dr N. H. Prior.

An X-ray examination disclosed that the bullet had penetrated the lower part of the lung and lodged in the liver.

Mr Beard’s condition this morning was reported as satisfactory.