Brave Rescue From Car

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 18

Brave Rescue From Car

CN.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, Feb. 27. Partially overcome by smoke and fumes and with flames licking at his hands and face, a young Ngahinapouri farmer rescued a semi-conscious youth from the wreckage of a blazing car near Hamilton on Saturday afternoon.

Seconds later, suffering from burns and shock, he burst open the door of another vehicle and pulled a second man to safety with the threat of an explosion at any minute. He is William Walsh, aged 20, who farms with his father and brothers on the HamiitonPirongia highway about eight miles from Hamilton. Both men he rescued are recovering. One of them, Edward Glen Amer, of RD. Ohaupo, a 20-year-old carpenter, is in the Waikato Hospital suffering from extensive bums and cuts.

The other, Joe Elliott, of 43 Slim street, Hamilton, was treated for cuts to the face and allowed to go home. Mr Walsh’s heroic rescue began after cars driven by the two men collided head-on. Sixteen-year-old James Walsh was the first to the scene but he was unable to drag Mr Arner from the car which was starting to burn fiercely. With Sacks His brother, William, arrived with sacks but was unable to stop the blaze. Forcing his way through an 18-inch gap of the mangled back door, he found Mr Amer lying on the floor of the car under the dashboard. “The hair on his head was on fire but I put that out with my hands and managed to drag him out. I couldn’t see properly for the smoke and I was nearly overcome

I by the fumes,” he said. “I > lost my breath for a wnile.” ■ Flames were coming from the engine through to the i interior of the car and Mr ■ Walsh burnt his left arm in . dragging the injured youth i to safety. Tyres Explode Only seconds after the two 1 got clear the back tyres of • the car exploded and the whole vehicle was enveloped , in flames. After taking Mr Arner , clear he rushed to the rescue iof Mr Elliott, who was trapped in a 1938 Chevrolet • upside down. Petrol was pouring over . the road and this car also ; was in danger of catching : fire. Forcing the front door ; open he dragged Mr Elliott : clear. Recovering at his home yesterday, Mr Walsh said “quite a few people” just stood around and watched as he rescued the two men and made no effort to assist in any way. One car even stopped and backed away down the road.