RETURNED IN CRUISER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 287, 4 December 1930, Page 9

RETURNED IN CRUISER.

BADLY-INJURED YOUTH. GREAT BARRIER ACCIDENT. , DOCTOR FLIES IN- SEAPLANE. The co-operation of the Air. Force and the Navy was responsible for the arrival at Auckland Hospital yesterday of a youtli who was severely injured on Great Barrier Island. He was Trevor Wilson, IS years of age, a seaman on J. J. Craig's scow Alma, which was loading firewood in Catherine Bay, on the north coast of the island.

The accident occurred at 11 a.m. The lad was working the steain winch when ! his left arm was caught in the cable and lie was drawn into the cogs. His arm. and hand were severely mangled, the hand being nearly severed below the wrist. His back was' also injured.

Realising that. the accident was of such a character that immediate medical aid was essential if the lad's life was to be saved, the master of the schooner, Mr. J. McKinnon, sent a telegram from Motairehe, some miles distant, to his owners, advising them of the position. The : telegram was received after, mid-day, and Mr. J. L. Hanna immediately got in touch with the Hobsonvillo aerodrome, with a view to ascertaining if help could be rendered by the use of one of the Defence Department's seaplanes. He was informed that the Fairey 111F could -he .dispatched the moment a. medical mail arrived.

Dr. T. Harold Pettit, medical adviser to the firm of J. J. Craig, agreed to make the trip, aiid lie" left Hobsonville, piloted 'by Flight-Lieutenant S. -Wallingford, at 3.40 p.m. The island was reached in a, little less than 30 minutes, H.M.s. Dunediii being passed en route. The 'plane landed in fairly calm water, and Dr. Pettit was rowed to the scow, and he dressed the lad's wounds. He decided that there was 110 necessity for an operation at once, and that it would be practically impossible, owing to the nature of his injuries, for Wilson to be taken back by seaplane. •

Mr. Ha nil a,- having remembered tliat the Dunedin was exercising in the Hauraki Gulf, communicated with the Devonport naval base "to see if assistance could be rendered. As the dunedin was scheduled to call at Port 1 itzroy, a few miles further round the coast, the commander was instructed 'by wireless to alter his—programme and call at Catherine Bay. When word was got to the scow of the position it was decided by Drf. Pettit. that the Dunedin would be.'the best means; of conveyance, especially as there was a. surgeon on board. The Dunedin received details of the accident at three o'clock;' and' lost no time in reaching Catherine Bay... The commodore's' barge l was rised to convey the injured youth to the cruiser, where he was attended bv Surgeon-Commander T. J. O'Kiordan. Auckland rvvas reached at approximately: 10.30 p.m.—only a few.minutes -behind schedule, time. A pinnace from the Phiiomel was waiting, and Wilson was taken to the Admiralty wharf steps, whore the hospital, ambula'nce was parked. " Inquiries, at the hospital this mprning disclosed tliat Wilson is. doing well, but it had not been decided Whether it"would Ixi -necessary 'to amputate", the hand.