Gymnasts Leap From Burning Bus

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30971, 29 January 1966, Page 3

Gymnasts Leap From Burning Bus

(N Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 28. Thirty-one members and officials of the touring Danish gymnastics team leapt to safety when their bus caught fire three miles north of Paraparaumu at 3.15 p.m. today.

The bus, which belongs to the New Zealand Railways, burned for more than half an hour. It was destroyed.

Two of the gymnasts suffered cuts to their arms, but the rest escaped injury. About half their personal belongings were lost. “But the show will still go on,” the team manager, Mr E. Flensted-Jensen, said tonight.

The teams’ costumes had been taken to Wellington by truck earlier in the day. The bus was travelling

from Auckland to Wellington. A passing motorist signalled the driver to stop because a rear tyre was burning.

“We didn’t think it was much at first,” said Mr Flensted-Jensen. STAYED IN BUS ,

“Some of us climbed down to see what it was, but the others stayed in the bus continuing their activities. “Suddenly flames arose and

the rear of the bus was engulfed in flame. “Those in the bus managed to get clear but were unable to get many belongings out.

“But then another fear became apparent—the danger of petrol exploding. “I don’t know how it did not explode, the flames were so close to the petrol lines. “If this had occured even with us outside the bus I can say there would have been a great disaster.

“When we realised the danger we got clear in seconds,” he said. CALLED BY RADIO Three appliances from the Paraparaumu Volunteer Fire Brigade rushed to the scene after a truck driver sent an alarm by his radio-telephone. The bus was towed to Wellington after new tyres and wheels had been fitted.

New- Zealand Railways officials were inspecting the damage tonight; “They told me they would take care of the cost of our losses,” said Mr Flensted-Jen-sen.

“We have met nothing but help and generosity during our New Zealand tour,” he said. “We are very grateful.” Mr Flensted-Jensen has

been managing the Danish gymnastics team since 1939. TOURED WORLD

They have toured the world since 1946 and have become internationally famous. A team under Mr FlenstedJensen was in New Zealand 11 years ago. The members of the present team, which has toured Europe. America and the Pacific, are aged between 18 and 25. They will perform at Hutt tomorrow afternoon and the Basin Reserve on Sunday afternoon and evening. ' The team will then tour the South Island until the end of March. It will arrive back in Denmark in May. Tonight team members went shopping for new clothes and equipment