RESCUE IN SIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 275, 21 November 1927, Page 10

RESCUE IN SIGHT.

BUT LOST MAN COULDN'T

SPEAK.

TONGUE SWOLLEN WITH

THIRST.

TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, November 18,

The appalling experience, when he had suffered ,two days from thirst and heat, of being unable to summon assistance though it was at hand, befell a bushman in the. country near the Murray River, South Australia, this week. He is James Morris, and he had become lost in the wild country thereabouts during the currency of a heat wave which swept from east to west of Australia during- last week. Morris was lost for two days, during which he endured untold suffering. He reached the stage when he could not stand up, and in the terrific heat was able only to crawl to the shade of a - tree. Be' had had no water for the two days,- and was hungry also. His tongue was swollen and he collapsed, awaiting what he thought must be certain death. To alleviate his sufferings he. tore off all hip clothes. This < did not ease his condition, which was made worse by the fact that the glare of the sun induced partial blindness.

Then, in the distance, he heard the sound of a motor car approaching. He struggled to his feet and attempted to call out for help. But no sound came. His tongue was so swollen that it absolutely forbade articulation. Again he collapsed, the disappointment being awful.

At night, when there was some measure of coolness, he rallied sufficiently to take an interest in his surroundings, and was attracted by the lights of a motor car, which appeared to be stationary. Morris called all pf his remaining strength together, and, after hours of struggling through the bush in the direction of the lights, staggered on to a road, where two men were attending to their car, 1 which had -broken down. Unable to speak, he fell at their feet. But his appearance was enough. .They started the car in a few minutes and'rushed him to Senmark Hospital, where he was admitted. It is believed that he will. recover. ! ' '