ACCIDENT AT SEA

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 289, 1 September 1933, Page 10

ACCIDENT AT SEA

Seaman Falls Sixty Feet RACE BACK TO PORT Tug’s Fortunate Presence E. Richardson, an able seaman of the Commonwealth, and Dominion .Line motor-ship. Port Fremantle was seriously injured early yesterday afternoon when he fell about sixty feet from, the vessel’s fore topmast stay on to the No. 1 hatch. He dislocated his right elbow, fractured his right arm, and suffered internal ; injuries and Fortunately for the injured seaman the Port Fremantle was being escorted by the Harbour Board’s tug Toia when the accident occurred, the two vessels being off the Brothers light.'One of the Port Fremantle’s boats was immediately. lowered, and the seaman taken to the Toia. While he was being transferred to the tug one of the boat’s crew had three fingers of his right hand badly crushed between the Toia and the boat He returned to the Port Fremantle, however,/where he was attended to by the ship's doctor. . The Toia returned at full speed to Wellington, reaching port , shortly before 5 o’clock. The Free Ambulance were waiting on the wharf, and the injured seaman was conveyed to the PubRe Hospital. -t The fortunate presence of the Toil was due to the Port Fremantle’s starboard engine being damaged. The vessel, which is making the trip to Sydney on her port engine only, left port shortly after 7 a.m. in tow of the Toia, which took her about six miles beyond the Heads. The Port Fremantle then stood on her course, using the one engine only, while the Toia kept her company aS escort to see her clear of Cook Strait. When the accident occurred, however, when the vessels were abreast of The Brothers! the Toia immediately stood back to port with the injured man, the Port Fremantle proceeding on hep way to Sydney, where she is expected to arrive next Wednesday.