FALL INTO CREVICE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30563, 5 October 1964, Page 1

FALL INTO CREVICE

Trapped at the bot- . tom of a deep crevice after falling down a sheer 40ft drop and then rolling some distance in the clay formations known as the Cathedral, near Gore Bay, a young man lay injured for more than two hours on Saturday evening. He was rescued in a hazardous operation that took an hour and a half. The injured man, Charles Roger Wright, aged 23, an accountant, of 157 Knowles street, Christchurch, was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital. His condition was reported last evening as satisfactory. Mr Wright suffered moderately serious head and leg injuries. The Cathedral is row upon row of tall pinnacles worn by the weather, with deep fissures in every direction. The soft clay in the area gives little footing. Mr Wright fell into the crevice after he had walked a short distance from

a car. When he did not return to the car his companions called to him. but there was no reply. When they realised he might have fallen down the crevice a torch was shone over the edge, but the beam did not reach the bottom. They kept calling out, and then heard a faint reply. An attempt was made to get down to where Mr Wright was lying, but this was impossible because the cliff was so steep. Constable H. C. Hollander, of Cheviot, was notified of the accident at 10.10 p.m., and the transport officer of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Cheviot (Mr G. S. Adamson) was informed a few minutes later. The superintendent of the brigade (Mr T. Barnes, of Spotswood) organised a rescue party, equipped with spotlights, ropes, and other equipment. Constable Hollander reached the Cathedral at 10.35 p.m., and the ambulance arrived five minutes later. It was a very dark night, but calm and mild.

Messrs Barnes, P. Childs, and E. Page were lowered over the edge on ropes while spotlights were shone into the crevice. During the res-

cue Mr Wright lapsed into unconsciousness on occasions.

Mr Wright, who was found lying on his back, was strapped to a stretcher and slowly hauled to the top by about 20 men. After being examined by. Dr. B. F. Heyward, of Cheviot, he was placed in the ambulance about midnight and taken to the Christchurch Hospital. He was later transferred to the Princess Margaret Hospital. Constable Hollander said the members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and others who assisted in the rescue did a wonderful job. The rescue party arrived amazingly quickly. On Saturday the Cheviot branch of the St. John Ambulance Brigade was the host for the annual inspection of the North Canterbury branches by senior officers from Christchurch. A demonstration was given of rescue work in mountainous country.