Youth Cut From Conveyor

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30056, 14 February 1963, Page 10

Youth Cut From Conveyor

(NJZ. Press Association) WELHNGTON, Feb. 13. While two workmates supported him and two firemen worked feverishly with acetylene torches to cut him free, an l&-year-old student, Michael Stace, of Cecil road, Wadestown, lay trapped with a mangled arm in a conveyor belt for an hour and a half early this morning.

Though dulled to the pain by a local anaesthetic administered by a doctor. Stace had to withstand the heat of the torch and the shock of the accident as he watched the effort* to free him. Mr Stace works part-time at Denhard Bakeries in Adelaide road. Newtown, where the accident happened. He suffered compound fractures of the upper and lower right arm, dislocation of the wrist, severe bruising to the arm and severe shock.

His condition is reported to be satisfactory. Wearing heavy mittens for handling hot' loaves of bread, Mr Stace was working near a hip-high conveyor belt at 1.38 am. today when his arm wrapped round and jammed in the shaft of the belt. An ambulance was immediately called and after a quick inspection the aid of the Central Fire Brigade was sought. The Chief Fire Officer, Mr W. J. Henderson, who has explicitly instructed that he be notified when a person’s life or limb is in danger, was advised. He accompanied the

emergency tender to toe bakery and the grim task of freeing toe youth began at 159 aun.

The injured student bad been nearly brought to his knees in toe accident and to lend support to hie body a wwtamte crouched on a trolley and supported him. Another squatted at toe youth’s side and held him steady. The cogs of the conveyor belt had Chewed into Mr Stace’s forearm muscles and he was in a very shocked condition as toe cutting work bCOM>» One fireman cut with toe acetylene torch in four or five ptaces while another firemen mechanic worked to dismantle toe machinery. Though wrapped in blankets to avoid toe heat, Mr Stace had sparks continually dropping on him as it was vital to cut as dose as possible to his trapped arm. The Cutting work lasted 40 minutes. Then be was freed and rushed to Wellington Hospital. >