RESCUE BID FAILS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29398, 28 December 1960, Page 8

RESCUE BID FAILS

Man Overboard From Orcades (N«u> Zeaiana Press Association/ AUCKLAND, Dec. 27. Emergency action by members of the crew of the British liner Orcades failed to save a male passenger who fell 60 feet into the sea on Boxing Day. The ship was about 400 miles north of Auckland in a calm sea. The man was Norman Douglas Burrows, aged 37, an Englishman who was a passenger to Auckland from Vancouver. In a dramatic attempt to rescue Mr Burrows, a steward plunged from the deck into the sea and was picked up by a lifeboat. Eyewitnesses described the rescue attempt when the Orcades reached Auckland today. The ship’s bell sounded the man-overboard warning while many of the 1200 passengers were having lunch. There was a rush for the rails as the big ship slewed off-course and reduced her 20-knot cruising speed. Five lifebuoys were flung over the side and two of them floated with upraised marker flags. A yellow smoke flare was also fired into the sea. Two lifeboats were manned, swung out. and held until the Orcades returned to the fall area. But before the boats could be lowered, a young steward. Mr John McLusky. of Glasgow, dived into the sea and started swimming.

A lifeboat carrying the senior surgeon. Dr. P. M. Morressey. nicked up Mr Burrows’ body and Mr McLusky was taken aboard the other boat.

Artificial respiration was given to Mr Burrows in the lifeboat and was continued on board the Orcades without success. He was buried at sea early this morning off the New Zealand coast. Mr Burrows had worked in Canada for the last two or three years. His mother lives in Liverpool.