Rescuers Almost Trapped By Cave-in

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32235, 2 March 1970, Page 1

Rescuers Almost Trapped By Cave-in

(New Zealand Press Association) KAIMAI PORTAL, March 1. The Kaimai rescue organiser, Mr R, E. Hermans, narrowly escaped being buried last night in the tunnel in which three men are still missing. “It was sixth sense which saved me,” he said today.

As he turned and ran out of the tunnel entrance with the construction supervisor, Mr L. Wills, tons of rock, rubble and mud crashed through the ceiling of the tunnel where they had been standing. “I was standing with Mr Wills by the second muck waggon in the tunnel. He was I on the other side," said Mr Hermans. “I saw a trickle of water coming down from the ceiling, then pebbles, then boulders, and then the timber in the ceiling started to move.” When the two men reached the tunnel mouth about 30 feet away, the slip had already buried three muck carts. The slip kept on tumbling from the time it began about 7.30 p.m. until about 8 p.m., but it did net settle until about 9.30 p.m. The slip happened where a tunneller, Mr P. Conlon, was dragged free a few hours after the tunnel first caved in. When Mr Hermans ran outside he yelled to men working above where the slip occurred. “They couldn't understand what 1 was talking about, but a cavity opened before their eyes,” he said. “It , kept that up for about a quarter of an ■ hour to 20 minutes.” This area of the tunnel has now been declared unsafe and a wooden barrier has been erected across the tunnel portal. “WILL NOT REST” “1 will not rest until 1 have made physical contact with • the men down below,” Mr (Hermans said today. The body of one man has I been found, and seven men were rescued on Friday. “I haven’t played my last card yet,” said Mr Hermans. The way in which the rescue workers had continued under the tension and condijtions was amazing, said Mi Hermans. “No person has appreciated more than I have what these men are doing.” I Two rescue shafts started at

the same time as the one: through which the survivors, were lifted on Friday have! been drilled through just over 50ft of hard rock and shingle? One shaft, of 33in diameter was drilled through the tunnel ceiling early today and rescue workers went below about 8 a.m. to make it safe. The first person down was lowered on a bosun's chair, and the bottom of the steel leasing was propped to make itl I safe. The second shaft, 24in ini diameter, has only a short distance to go. Men and equipment will be lowered down these shafts to attack the wall of the slip nearest the tunnel face. HOPE STILL HELD • A third shaft has already been planned for a portion ot the collapsed tunnel where it is thought possible that the missing men found shelter below a steel-ribbed section of the tunnel. Mr Hermans said he could not be sure there was a cav(ity but it was, at the moment (considered one of the most • likely places for a cavity to •exist. There could be other such cavities, but these were not • likely to be found until resIcue workers began clearing 'the fall inside the tunnel, or until the fourth shaft was I through. The condition of the two injured survivors was described as satisfactory by I the Waikato Hospital today. William Gilheaney, aged 27, of Matamata, may be discharged tomorrow. It was thought at first that one of his legs was broken in three places, but after X-rays at Waikato Hospital on Friday night he was found to be suffering from severe bruising only. The other injured man, Hubert Neely, of Cambridge, is suffering from a broken thigh. His condition was described as “fairly satisfactory.” P.M.’s STATEMENT The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) in Wellington l yesterday issued the followpng statement about the rescue: “On behalf of the Governiment and all New Zealanders

11 want to thank the rescue (team for its courage and unremitting effort in freeing (the trapped men. “It is in circumstances like these that man’s finest qualities are shown to the greatest advantage and the pride and satisfaction the rescue team must feel is gratefully endorsed by us all. I “I sincerely hope that the • men who were brought out recover quickly from their 'physical and mental ordeal, lit was a terrible experience (during which they displayed the highest courage.” Mr Holyoake said nothing could cancel, or compensate for, the loss sustained by the families of the men dead or presumed dead, but the symIpathy of all New Zealanders (was with them. “The cave-in at Kaimai was a terrible disaster but we must be humbly grateful that the extent of human suffering it caused was not far greater (than proved to be the case.”