Long, cold walk to bring help

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32777, 30 November 1971, Page 3

Long, cold walk to bring help

(From Our Own Reporter)

TIMARU, Nov. 29.

A man had to walk 10 miles to Mount Cook National Park headquarters to summon help after an accident on the highway from Pukaki to the Hermitage. Three persons were injured in the accident, at 2 a.m. on Sunday. Their admission to Timaru Hospital was delayed for some time because of the long walk by the only uninjured occupant of the car, there being no first-aid post on the highway. Ross Roy Davoren made his companions comfortable and then walked from Bush Stream Bridge in falling snow.

The accident occurred when the vehicle hit the end of the bridge, four miles from Glentanner Station. The driver, Denis McConnell, a lineman, of Twizel, suffered head injuries and lacerations, and was admitted to hospital for observation. Miss Julia Gibbs, of Old North Road, Timaru, was also admitted for observation with similar injuries. Miss Lorraine Sylva, of Marybum Road, Twizel, suffered chest injuries.

All three were attended by Dr P. W. Law, of Twizel, and were taken to hospital by St John ambulance. Their condition was described today as satisfactory. Constable L. Dickie, of Twizel, commended Mr Davoren, a young Twizel apprentice motor mechanic, for his actions. There is concern about the lack of first-aid cabinets on the highway. The Mackenzie subcentre of the Fairlie St John Ambulance Association has several first-aid posts on the WashdykeOhau highway but none after the Mount Cook turnoff.

There are, however, three settlements within nine miles of Bush Stream bridge (Glentanner Station; the Ministry of Works depot, “The Rest”; and Ferintosh Station), which are on the telephone. The closest to Bush Stream bridge is Glentanner Station, at Twins Stream.

First-aid posts are provided in many localities throughout New Zealand, but some St John Ambulance Associations are not in favour of their installation, their argument being that motorists should carry first-aid kits.