Flying-Boat Picks Up Sick Seaman

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30106, 15 April 1963, Page 10

Flying-Boat Picks Up Sick Seaman

(New Zealana Press Association)

AUCKLAND, April 14

A R.N.Z.A.F. Sunderland flying-boat picked up a sick American seaman from the U.S. Navy Antarctic supply ship Arneb at sea oft’ the Great Barrier Island at 7 a.m. today.

The transfer was made from the ship’s cutter in a six-foot swell at the mouth of the Hauraki Gulf after a 24-hour dash by the Arneb An attempt to transfer the sick man in the open sea on Saturday morning was called off after the flying boat made two unsuccessful attempts to alight near the ship. The Arneb then turned back towards Auckland Taxied a Mile

The flying boat took off from Hobsonville at 6.15 a.m. with a two-man medical team

It alighted near the Arneb at 6.25 a.m. and taxied about a mile across the water to meet the ship’s cutter. Medical staff used a Neil Robertson stretcher to transfer the seaman.

The flying boat had to taxi toward Great Barrier Island before it could find suitable conditions to take oft. It arrived back on the Auckland harbour at 7.55 a.m. where it was met by a naval barge Steamed Off The Arneb, which left Auckland on Thursday steamed off as soon as the transfer was completed. The seaman was taken to the Devonport Nava) Hospital where he was treated today for a stomach disorder A Navy doctor said tonight that . the seaman’s condition improved during the day. He would be kept under observation for several days. Late tonight the hospital reported his condition as satisfactory