'PLANE TO AID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 243, 13 October 1936, Page 7

'PLANE TO AID.

CALL TO BARRIER.

, APPENDICITIS CASE. , LANDING ON WAITEMATA. • . SECOND TIME IN FORTNIGHT. I 3 For the second time within a fortnight a seaplane from the Hobsonville base f was utilised this morning to bring a 1 patient from the Great Barrier Island to r Auckland. A child was brought to-day f suffering from appendicitis, and as the 1 case was considered urgent the seaplane i did not proceed to Hobsonville, as it did 3 a fortnight ago, but landed in the Wai--3 temata Harbour and taxied to the f Admiralty steps, from where the child was taken by the St. John Ambulance to a private hospital. The child was George Medland, aged Ave years, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Medland, of Tryphena, Great Barrier. Mr. Medland accompanied the child in the seaplane, and incidentally had his first flight. By a coincidence Mr. Medland was himself taken to Auckland from the Great Barrier Island suffering from appendicitis about a year ago, when the journey was made by launch. The child, Elsa Medland, aged three years, who was brought by seaplane a fortnight ago, suffering from an injury to the neck, is a niece of Mr. Medland. Upon his child being taken suddenly ill, Mr. Medland communicated by telephone with a doctor at Coromandel, as there is no direct telegraphic or telephonic communication with Auckland, who relayed the appeal for help to an Auckland doctor. The latter arranged with Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt, officer commanding the Hobsonville base, for a seaplane to bo dispatched. Piloted by Flying-Officer R. J. Cohen, who made the previous flight, the machine took off from Hobsonville about 8.30 a.m., and in spite of rain and rather poor visibility landed in Oruawharo Bay, opposite Tryphena, shortly after 9 a.m. The machine taxied in and anchored near the shore, the child being transferred in a rowing boat. Plane Circles Over City. When the seaplane was seen off the island, Mr. Medland, assisted by residents, placed his son on an improvised stretcher and began the mile journey from his house to the beach. A small canvas frame-work for first aid emergency purposes is carried in the seaplace, and the child was quickly accommodated in the machine. The 'plane then took off for Auckland and arrived about 11 a.m. A message had been sent to the St. John Ambulance asking that an ambulance be ready by the Admiralty steps about 11.15 a.m. The seaplane, however, made faster time than was expected, and, in order to acquaint the association of its earlier arrival, it first circled several times over the city near Rutland Street. The 'plane then landed in the harbour and created considerable interest among the large group of onlookers by taxi-inpf skilfully alongside the steps. The child was then rushed to the private hospital. Mr. Medland said his unexpected first flight was an interesting experience and, even with the worry over his son, he thoroughly enjoyed it. He said that his niece, Elsa, had made a good recovery and was back on the island. Mr. Medland mentioned that he was one of five brothers, all living on Great Barrier Island. They did. not smoke, and had invested their "smoke money savings" in a launch.