TUNNEL TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1938, Page 22

TUNNEL TRAGEDY.

THE ROOF COLLAPSED. WORKER TRAPPED BY FALL WAS DEAD WHEN DUG OUT. SYDNEY, May 13. Trapped 30ft below Ash Street. City, wlien the roof of a partly-constructed tunnel collapsed, Sydney Cash, 40, of Marriekville Road, Marrickville, suffered a terrible death. Rescuers worked frantically to reach liim, but he was dead when recovered. A companion suffered slight wounds when struck by falling earth. The two men had descended a Water nn<l Sewerage Board shaft in a bucket used for hauling rock and dirt to the surface. Thirty feet below the street level a tunnel was being formed, and the men were working there when the collapse occurred. It is estimated that nearly a ton of earth fell, overwhelming Cash, whose companion was on the outskirts of the fall. He was sent staggering, but was able to get free. He called out, and ran to assist Cash. $)ther workmates hurried to help I ♦

him. Not being sure whether or not their mate was dead, the men worked desperately. It was a dramatic struggle; and there was no certainty that another fall of earth would not occur. After long and exhausting efforts the rescuers reached Cash. His body had been badly injured, and it was considered that he was killed when struck on the head by a piece of rock. Sudden Death. Tlie body had been lifted free when Central Ambulance officers arrived. They were lowered in the bucket, in which later they ascended with the body, which was removed to the city morgue. An ambulance officer said lie thought, that death must have occurred quickly. Cash, he said, had had 110 chance of i escape. The fail of earth must have occurred so suddenly that Cash was knocked down as be turned to run for safety. After the tragedy, the men at the shaft ceased work for the day.