SHOT IN SHOULDER

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30587, 2 November 1964, Page 10

SHOT IN SHOULDER

Deerstalking Accident (N.Z. Prest Association) ROTORUA, October 30. A Rotorua deerstalker, who had been shot in the shoulder, last night walked a mile and a half to a boat, crossed Lake Tarawera, and was then taken to the Rotorua Hospital, where his condition this morning was reported to be satisfactory. The wounded man is Clive Osborne Abbott, aged 37, marrid, painter, Old Quarry road, Rotorua. Senior-Sergeant W. K. Egan, Rotorua police, said today the accident occurred about 6.45 p.m. in a State forest area on the northeastern side of Lake Tarawera. Mr Egan said John Foster Hamlett, aged 20, single, a fishing tackle manufacturer, of Lynmore, Rotorua, went with his father, Mr H. F. Hamlett, by boat to the far side of the lake, where Mr Hamlett, junior, was to spend the evening deer stalking. Mr Hamlett wounded a deer and followed it and then saw a second deer. His attention was then drawn to a noise in a patch of lupins some 75 yards away. He told the police he watched the movement for a time and was sure it was a deer so he fired one shot from his .303 rifle. When he approached the lupins he found he had accidentally wounded a man in the shoulder. Mr Hamlett gave what first aid he could and accompanied Mr Abbott a mile and a half to the boat and the two men returned to Rotorua with Mr Hamlett, senior.