AN ALARMING EXPERIENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1939, Page 12

AN ALARMING EXPERIENCE

TRAPPED BY BLAZING PETROL. FARMER SEVERELY BURNT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. August 25. Trapped-by burning petrol in a small enclosed milking-machine engine-room on his father's farm. Mr Frederick Barker Dawson, single, aged 26, son of Mr and Mrs S. Dawson, or Riverview, Mahrangi, about seven miles from Warkworth, had an alarming experience before he was rescued by his brother, Mr Leonard Dawson. He suffered severe burns to his arms and legs, and was brought to Auckland Hospital, his condition being fairly serious. Dircctlj’ outside the engine-room stood a copper, under which a fire had been lit to boil water. The fire ignited petrol and the flames swiftly ran back to a drum in the engine-room, which scon became enveloped in flames. The only exit was barred, and Mr Dawson was helpless to escape. With great presence of mind he wrapped himself in old coats which were hanging in the shed, thus saving himself from more extensive injuries. The fire and Mr Dawson’s predicament were first seen by his mother, who drew the attention of her other son, Mr Leonard Dawson. He ran to the adjoining separator-room, breaking a window to enter it, and obtained an axe. With this he tore a sheet of corrugated iron from the outside of the engine-room and rescued his brother, who was on the verge of collapse.