Injured Driver’s Gallant Effort
(New Zealand Press Association)
AUCKLAND, March 15.
Exhausted and injured, Robert Cranston, of Manurewa, a driver for Refrigerated Freight Lines, entered Opotiki Hospital on Saturday.
He had omitted to tell anyone in the town that he was in pain until after he had taken one of the leading parts in the rescue and relief work.
Mr Cranston’s big trailer truck was trapped in the Waioeka gorge in torrential rain and slipping hillsides on Wednesday morning.
He walked 18 miles through the slips in flood water, but on the way a slip moved as he was making his way around it and he hurt his back.
Mr Cranston reached Opotiki and booked into a hotel, but while watching the flood rushing through the main street he saw a cabin cruiser with women and children begin to sink. He plunged into the water and fought his way along a rope to the boat to assist them into the safety of a building.
Unable to return to the hotel, Mr Cranston remained with the people for the night in the flooded office.
On Thursday morning he plunged into the organisation of emergency meals stationed in St. Mary’s Hall and played a big part in cooking meals for 500 people.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30391, 16 March 1964, Page 12
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210Injured Driver’s Gallant Effort Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30391, 16 March 1964, Page 12
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