ELDERLY MAN’S ORDEAL

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28572, 29 April 1958, Page 14

ELDERLY MAN’S ORDEAL

Found Disabled By Searchers (New Zealand Press Association) LEVIN, April 28 A 73-year-old deerstalker spent 18 hours lying injured in rough country and bitterly cold weather . in the Tararua Ranges behind Shannon at the week-end before a search party headed by Mr L. G Sayer, of Shannon, discovered him and brought him to safety. The man was Theodore Ahlers, of Buckley road, Houghton Bay, Wellington. Mr Ahlers was admitted to the Palmerston North Hospital last night. It appears that an old leg injury gave trouble, making it impossible for Mr Ahlers to walk. The injured man, in company with. George Todd, aged 19, of Beach road. Levin, arrived at the dam on Thursday evening, and camped in a hut there. They set off into the bush early on Friday morning, and made their way towards Harris’s ' creek, .which is about four hours' walk from the dam. At 1.35 pm. on Saturday, Mr Todd arrived out of the bush at Mangahao, and went to a cottage occupied by Dr; P. C. Service, of Johnsonville, and told him that Mr Ahlers had fallen and was injured, and was in need of asDr. Service, in company with Mr Todd, Dr. J. A. Gibbs, also of Johnsonville, and three Air Force men from Ohakea, set out to find the injured stalker. Mrs Service advised the Shannon police, and a party of six with Sergeant Rutherford, of Palmerston North, and with Mr Sayer as leader, also left. The first party with Dr. Service failed to find the injured men, who was finally found at 220 a.m. yesterday by the party lec by Mr Sayer. The searchers carried Mr Ahlers to the top dam. arriving there about 6 n.m. An ambulance was waiting, and took the injured deerstalker to the hospital.