FALLS INTO DRAIN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29657, 30 October 1961, Page 12

FALLS INTO DRAIN

Girl And Man Rescued

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Oct. 29. Young laughter turned to screams of horror at Pukekohe on Saturday when a schoolgirl playing with friends fell into a flooded stormwater drain in Kitchener road.

The girl, Gail Webster, aged 9, of Anzac road. Pukekohe, was swept away by the fast-moving current. Attracted by the screams of the children, Mr A. Walker, who lives opposite, ran alongside the drain after Gail.

He managed to catch up with her when she became jammed against a culvert. The muddy waters hid her from Mr Walker, but he plunged his hand blindly down. He found her and pulled her to safety. More serious injuries were suffered by Mr O. Ashby, aged 28, single, a railway worker, of Pukekohe, who later fell into the same drain. An attempt to rescue him was made by Mr H. Hulme. who dived into the drain and managed to catch hold of Mr Ashby.

The two men were parted while passing through a culvert and Mr Ashby went under two more culverts before he was taken from the water in Queen street. He was given mouth resuscitation by two unidentified men. He was taken to Middlemore Hospital where he was admitted .with a broken shoulder, concussion, and susoected internal injuries. He was reported to be dangerously ill tonight although there had been a slight improvement in his condition