Firemen called on

Press, 10 December 1981, Page 28

Firemen called on

Firemen were called on to perform an unusual task after ambulancemen had summoned them to 12 Craven Street, Upper Riccarton, about 2.40 p.m. yesterday. A boy, aged 15, had fallen against a shed while playing and had impaled a hand on a long, rusty nail. The problem facing the ambulancemen was how to get the boy, who was in considerable pain, to hospital without taking the shed to the accident and emergency unit as well. That was where the Fire Service came in. Using a chainsaw, a fireman carefully cut away the section of wall around the boy’s hand, so that, only the nail and a“ small piece of timber, would have, to go with him in the’■ambulance. He was treated and discharged. . :, Christchurch . firemen had - to do a,.similar,',but more gruesome’- '’ job v last Giiy Fawkes ‘ night,. used bolt-cutters'to iCut Ihe: handle off a three-pronged, barbed'-eel spear which a young boy had driven right through a foot. Three units of the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade were called at 3.35 p.m. yesterday to a small but spectacular fire in the old wood-chip storage area at the eastern end of Cashin Quay. -v Clouds of white smoke billowed over the harbour, but the fire was quickly.:brought ‘ under control with the aid of a Lyttelton. Borough Council water tender. The cause was not know.