Man trapped under ’dozer

Press, 11 February 1981, Page 1

Man trapped under ’dozer

A man was flown to Christchurch Hospital by helicopter last evening after a bulldozer accident on the Port Hills. The man had been walking behind the bulldozer on the slope when the machine’s transmission blew, up and.it ran backwards, trapping him under the blade, the police said. He is James Rowes, aged 30, of 69 Belt Street, Ashburton, who was admitted to Christchurch Hospital late . last evening with a broken leg and other injuries. He is reported in a satisfactory condition. The bulldozer, had been clearing -scrub in steep country below the Summit Road, about a kilometre south of the Sign of the

Bellbird, when the accident occurred. The driver of the machine had to run to Tai Tapu to raise the alarm, which reached the St John Ambulance Service at 6.20 p.m. Three ambulancemen , an accident team, doctor, and a policeman had to walk about five kilometres - to reach the injured man, who was conscious, but in a lot of pain. Two Red Cross four-wheel-drive vehicles were also sent to the scene. The ambulancemen carried Mr Rowes about 100 metres uphill to await the arrival of a Royal New Zealand Air Force Iroquois helicopter from Wigram, which flew him to Hagley Park.