INJURED MAN'S ORDEAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 263, 6 November 1929, Page 11

INJURED MAN'S ORDEAL.

ACCIDENT IN BACKBLOCKS. 24 HODES FROM HOSPITAL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, Tuesday. Although he was only about 40 miles from Opotiki when he was injured by being thrown from a horse yesterday, John Thomas Murphy was 24' hours in being brought to hospital, where he now lies in a critical condition. Mr. Murphy, who is a single man, aged 37, was employed by the Public Works Department on the East Coast Road near Fairweathers. He was thrown from his horse on to a tree stump when the animal bolted, and received severe internal injuries. The only way he could be brought was bv boat, but as the night was very dark and a good sea running it. would not have been possible to put an injured man on board. Mr. A. Clark left early this morning with Mr. Brooke s launch, but he had to return after reaching Torere, as the sea was too rough. Murphy was finally carried by a stretcher party to Raukokore, and from there he was taken by a cream launch to Maraenui, on the Motu River. The sea was still rough and the journey of about 30 miles took about four hours. A taxi cab was awaiting the launch at Maraenui. The urgent necessity of bridging the Haparapara River and completing the coast road is illustrated by this case.