Man saved after campervan sinks
PA Dunedin A man perched on top of his campervan for nearly an hour as it floated down a hydro canal near Lake Tekapo. He was rescued just after it sank, by a passing motorist. Mr J. D. Kerr was under water when dragged to the surface by the motorist. His campervan had left the TekapoPukaki canal road and plunged into the water, where it floated because of air trapped inside.
He owed his life to the action of a Dunedin signwriter, Mr D. I. Williams, said the Lake Tekapo policeman, Constable W. Apes, yesterday. The incident happened on Boxing Day.
Mr Williams saw Mr Kerr frantically waving for help about a kilometre along the • canal from where the van veered off tfie r r&ad."' k
After shouting to Mr Kerr, he dropped his wife, Brenda, at the nearby highway to call for help.
However, when he returned to the canal he saw the back window of the van blow out because of the pressure, and the van sink. He swam out and grabbed Mr Kerr, who by then was floating under the water.
Constable Apes said Mr Williams got Mr Kerr back to the steep shore. Two Australian tourists helped to haul him up on to the roadway and perform heart massage.
A doctor and St John Ambulance volunteers then arrived from Tekapo and attended Mr Kenbefore taking him to Timaru Hospital. Constable Apes said he believed several other motorists must have seen Mr Kerr’s plight but kept r driving; •r r - I '--—*
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Press, 6 January 1987, Page 1
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259Man saved after campervan sinks Press, 6 January 1987, Page 1
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