FATAL CRASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 11

FATAL CRASH.

AEROPLANE DIVES. YOUNG MAN KILLED. FOUR PERSONS INJURED. RESCUER'S ifFrara'wirAiwj' FEAT. tßy Telegraph.—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, Friday. A Fox Moth aeroplane carrying five persons crashed in the surf while attempting a landing at Big Bay on Wednesday, one passengers being killed and all the other occupants injured. The machine was takinjr a party to Franz i Josef Glacier and was making a halt to drop one passenger at the trampers' hut at Big Bay on the west coast, about 30 miles north of Milford Sound. As the aeroplane was landing it apparently stalled, and. eye-witnesses saw it nose-dive into the surf from a considerable height. The victims were:— Mr. Sutton Jones, aged 21, journalist, employed by the Southland "Daily News," killed. He was a son of Mr. Walter Jones, editor of the "Daily News." Sister Catherine Buckingham, of the nursing staff of the Southland Hospital, fractured right thigh, fractured left forearm, fractured pelvis and scalp wounds. Mr. George Ross, aged 31, of Clyde Street, Invercargill, employed*by Cars well and Company, Limited, fractured left thigh. Mr. W. E. Hunt, of Wallacetown, son of Sir William Hunt, severe bruises. Mr. A. J. Bradshaw, of Beatrice Street, Invercargill, pilot of the aeroplane, severely cut head. Three of the injured were admitted to hospital in Invercargill on Thursday evening, and the fourth, Mr. Hunt, entered a private hospital on Friday. Medical aid was summoned by an occupant of the Hut, Mr. David Gunn, whose 40-mile journey to the nearest telephone over rough mountain country, is described as an amazing feat. The doctor who flew to the scene said that by covering the journey usual ly made in four days in 21 hours, much of it by night, Mr. Gunn had saved possibly two lives. One of the eye-witnesses of the accident said Mr. Gunn took a big part in the rescue work. Bis knowledge of bushcraft was invaluable in the building of an improvised stretcher, Almost Superhuman Effort. The rescue work completed, Mr. Gunn set out on his tramp of nearly 40 miles for help. He walked four miles to Lake McKerrow, rowed 13 miles on the lake, and then walked, or rather, climbed, 14 miles of track across the main divide. He arrived at the Public Works camp telephone, placed at the camp in the Hollyford Valley for emergency use almost 24 hours after the accident had occurred. Only those who know the nature of the rough mountain country could appreciate the merit of the trip, and the almost superhuman speed with which it was done. The doctor said experienced trampers would regard three days as very fast time for the trip, but Mr. Gunn, who had previously worked untiringly in the rescue of the injured, made it in less than one day. His feat could not be praised too highly and the quick time in which the news of the accident had been sent to Invercargill had enabled muchneeded medical assistance to be at Big Bay within a day. The accident, as described by eyewitnesses to an Invercargill doctor who flew to Big Bay when the news was received, occurred with startling suddenness. The aeroplane was expected by trampers at the hut in Big Bay. They were to be joined by one of the passengers. They saw it approach at about 4 o'clock. It was approaching the beach to land when suddenly it seemed to go into a straight dive, disappearing behind the sandhills. Realising that it must have crashed, the onlookers rushed on to the beach and found it wrecked in the surf near the shore. The pilot was able to help in the rescue of the passengers, in particular in that of Sister Buckingham, who had to be carried ashore. A stretcher of sticks and flax was improvised and the injured were taken to the trampers' hut. Nurse Gives First Aid. Mr. Jones, who had suffered a blow on the head, was unconscious. He was extricated from the wreckage and brought to the beach, where efforts were made by artificial respiration to bring him round. These were unavailing. It is thought that the blow he received immediately the aeroplane crashed was such that he never recovered consciousness. Fortunately among those at the hut was Nurse Robins, of Invercargill, who, with the assistance of Miss Mehaffy. also of Invercargill, and Mr. David Gunn, was able to make the four injured as comfortable as possible. The pilot, Mr. Bradshaw, who had an air taxi license, was a frequent visitor to Big Bay, which, although easily accessible by aeroplane, is in the heart of wild and unsettled country and is very difficult of approach by land. News of the accident was received in Invercargill on Thursday afternoon. Two Southland Aero Club machines, one carrying a doctor, left at about 4.30 p.m. for Big Bay, each making the trip in about 90 minutes. It was essential that the machines should leave on the return trip in time to make a landing at the aerodrome before dark, so that all the doctor was able to do was to give such immediate attention as was possible within a short period and to make the patients comfortable for the journey to Invercargill by air. The first ir—chine carried back to Invercargill Sister Buckingham and Mr. Hunt, and arrived *at about 8.30 p.m.. before darkness fell. The other machine, with Mr. Ross, could get only as far as Mossburn, where an ambulance was sent. Mr. Hunt went first to his home and then to-day to & private hospital. Two trips were made back to the citv from Big Bay to-day. one aeroplane bringing hack the doctor and the bodv of Air. Jones. Mr. Jones had served for four vear* on the reporting staff pf the "Sn-nhtand Hailv News." Ho was educated fir*t at t'-e "-n'hnrvM and then it Waitaki Boys' High School. Inquest Adjourned. The inquest into the death of Mr. Sutton Jones was opened to-night and was adjourned sine die. The C actin«coroner, Mr. James Ward, referred to the work of Dr. L. C. McNickle, medical superintendent of the Southland Hospital, who flew to Big Bay vesterday. and said the district was fortunate that it had a fling doctor.