Concord’s Dash To Help Sick Man On Island

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28399, 4 October 1957, Page 14

Concord’s Dash To Help Sick Man On Island

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, October 2. The British destroyer Concord made a high-speed dash from Auckland to Moko Hinau Island today to give medical aid to a sick lighthouse mechanic. Outward bound to the Far East after service in New Zealand waters, the Concord was diverted to assist Mr W. Wellington, a Marine Department employee, of Wellington. Once she had cleared the harbour limits, the destroyer increased speed to 24 knots and made the run to the island in about two and a half hours. Moko Hinau is in the Hauraki Gulf, about 60 miles from Auckland Mr Wellington was attended by the Concord’s doctor and arrangements were made for the destroyer to transfer the patient to a launch outside Whangarei heads. Mr Wellington was doing maintenance on the island lighthouse when the Marine Department in Auckland was advised by radio at 11 a.m. that he had suffered a heart attack. The Navy was asked to send assistance and it was planned at first to send the lighthouse servicing ship Arataki and the survey motor launch Takapu to Moko Hinau. The two vessels were recalled when it was decided to divert the Concord. The Whangarei Harbour Board

was advised of the emergency and arranged for a launch to rendezvous with the» Concord off Whangarei heads. At 10 o’clock tonight an ambulance was waiting at the wharf at Whangarei for the return of the launch. The launch returned to Whangarei at 10 o’clock tonight and the patient was taken to Whangarei Hospital. His condition is satisfactory.