Arctic Explorer Seriously Hurt

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31786, 17 September 1968, Page 13

Arctic Explorer Seriously Hurt

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, September 16. Sir Vivian Fuchs, of the British transArctic expedition’s management committee in London, has decided, on the evidence of two medical reports, to have Mr Allan Gill, one of the party of four explorers, brought home from the Arctic ice cap because of a fall in which he severely injured his back. A replacement will be flown out as soon as possible.

From Point Barrow, Alaska, Peter Dunn, of “The Times,” reports that Mr Gill, who is 38 and the oldest member of the party, is now bedridden in a tiny storm tent 800 miles from the Alaskan coast, but is steadfastly refusing any suggestion that be should be lifted off the ice and flown to hospital. The expedition’s 3800-mile trek from Point Barrow to Spitsbergen the longest, coldest journey in the world —has now come to a halt until next (northern) spring. Mr Gill’s condition has improved slightly—he can now sit up to eat—but he is still confined to his bed of boards and under the constant supervision of Major Kenneth

Hedges, the Royal Army Medical Corps doctor with the party, and he is still in considerable pain. Major Hedges, whose concern is with medical realities rather than Arctic heroics, thinks Mr Gill should be lifted off as soon as possible. Mr Gill was injured on Monday of last week when, with a heavily-laden rucksack on his back, he fell into a snow-covered crack in the ice. The expedition had just broken their summer camp, “Meltville," and were making towards the Pole. Mr Gill, under heavy sedation, was lifted on to a sledge and gently manhandled seven miles back to the camp site, the safest ice floe in the area. 1