BOILERMAN’S PLIGHT

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28542, 22 March 1958, Page 10

BOILERMAN’S PLIGHT

Buried To Neck In Coal

(N.Z. Press Association Copyright i LONDON, March 20

A boilerman was buried up to the neck in coal at a Greenwich power station yesterday—and the coal was slowly moving down into a chute into a giant furnace, the “Daily Herald’’ reported today. The man, 45-year-old Bill Hanlon, could feel the coal becoming warmer as he was sucked towards the flames.

And he could feel the safety rope which was tied round his body and attached to the top of the chute getting tighter and tighter as it took the strain.

A workmate heard his shouts for help, jumped into the chute to try to free him, but in vain. He sent for police and firemen, and they started digging. After 90 agony-packed minutes, Hanlon was freed and taken to hospital for treatment to cuts. He said last night: “I was buried in about 80 tons of coal It was hard to breathe, and 1 thought I was going to die. Gus (his workmate) told me to hang on while he raised the alarm. Then the supply of coat to the furnace beneath was shut off. “Gus and another man brought me a pipe to breathe through in case more coal came down on me’’