LEG SEVERED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 123, 26 May 1932, Page 8

LEG SEVERED.

DRAGGED BY TRAIN. PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE. ACCIDENT NEAR TE KUITI. FALL FROM SLIPPERY STEP. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TE KUITI, this day. A married man, Mr. Seymour Tancred McDowall, in attempting to board the 5.40 train this morning from T'e Kuiti to Taumarunui, while it was in motion, had one leg amputated above the . knee and his other leg badly injured at the knee. Mr. McDowall, who ie 25 years of age, and has one child, was employed by the Public: Works Department in the construction of tho electric power line from Arapuni to Stratford. The line has now reached the vicinity of Puketutu, on the Main Trunk line. Mr. MeDowall has lately been residing in To Kuiti and was going to his work at Puketutu by the early morning train. The WellingtonAuckland express, which crosses the 5.40 a.m. train at Te Kuiti, was running late. The goods train, on which Mr. McDowall wae .travelling,.left on time in order to reach Puketutu before the express arrived there. Mr. Mcßowall, who lives near the line on the south side of the station, being late, endeavoured to board the train in motion some 300 yards from the point of departure. He wae hampered by a two-gallon can of milk which he was taking to the camp at Puketutu and evidently slipped in the loose ballast. The step of the carriage was covered with hoar frost, rendering it elippery. Dr Do Castro was quickly called and found the left log had been completely severed. Mr. McDowall was hurried to the Te Kuiti Hospital. Everything possible was speedily done by the Te Kuiti station officials. His condition is reported to be serious.