OVERCOME BY GAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1942, Page 2

OVERCOME BY GAS

WELL-BORER’S EXPERIENCE AT GLADSTONE HAULED TO SURFACE QUITE FIT. AFTER EARLIER UNSUCCESSFUL RESCUE EFFORTS. Overcome by gas at the bottom of a well 115 feet deep, on the property of Mr Percy Cooper, “Waimana,” Gladstone, last evening, a well-borer, Mr John Malneek, of Martinborough, became unconscious and did not revive for several hours. Shortly after* he revived he was hauled up at 11.20 p.m. little the worst for his experience. Mr Malneek put in a blast of gelignite at 12.30 p.m. and waited until 5.30 p.m. before descending, in order to allow time for the fumes to disappear. Shortly after he went down he asked for an auger and a few minutes later communication with him was lost. As no response could be obtained fears were entertained and it was thought that he might have lost his life. Rescue efforts were attempted for some hours but without success. One of Mr Cooper’s sons tried to reach Mr Malneek, but had to give up. Superintendent T. B. Clark, of the Masterton Fire Brigade, wearing a gas mask, volunteered to go down and succeeded in getting to a depth of about 100 feet. The well, which is only about 3 ft. 6in. across, did not give much room for movement and after Mr Clark had signalled to the winchmen to raise him, he became jammed in the well for a period of about five minutes, being unable to move either up or down. Another rope was lowered and he was hauled to the surface. While he was in the well, he dropped a three-cell torch. Some time later, sounds came from the well and then Mr Malneek’s voice was heard. He first of all asked for a rope, which he attached to. his body and then for a drink, which was lowered to him. He could be seen using the torch. “Give me ten minutes,” he said, before he signalled to the people on top to haul him up. He reached the top apparently little the worse for his experience, but was very cold, as he was wearing only a singlet and trousers. “I went off to sleep,” he said.

It appears that Mr Malneek was overcome by black smoke and rendered unconscious. He i's an experienced well-borer and carries on his operations in spite of having only one hand.