MAN LOST AT SEA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29250, 7 July 1960, Page 12

MAN LOST A T SEA

Swept Overboard In Storm (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 6. A storm which struck the freighter, Sydney Star, off the island of Rapa, in French Oceania, swept one man overboard and injured four other members of the crew, one seriously. One of the ship's engines was out of action at the time.

The 11,219-ton ship arrived at Auckland from Liverpool late tonight after 41 days at sea. The man swept overboard was the boatswain. He was:

William McLean, an Englishman. The island of Rapa is about a quarter the distance from Pitcairn to New Zealand. A report received at the Wellington offices of the Blue Star Line on June 27 from the master of the Sydney Star (Captain W. T. Pitcher) said the vessel had encountered heavy weather to the south of Rapa Island, and the boatswain had been lost overboard.

Captain Pitcher said that four other members of the crew had been injured, and one man was suffering from a suspected fracture of the jaw and a compound fracture of the left leg. ' • The report said the ship had turned about and searched for the missing man. but no sign of him had been found. The ship later resumed her original course, and repairs were made to the engine that was out of order. The ship continued at reduced speed.

A later message from the ship said that all the injured meh were comfortable. They are expected to enter hospital tonight or early tomorrow morning. The ship itself is not believed to be damaged, and permanent repairs will be done to the engine while the freighter unloads her cargo, which is mainly from the west coast of the United Kingdom.