SLOW RECOVERY

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 188, 8 May 1934, Page 4

SLOW RECOVERY

Injured Auckland Police Constable COURAGEOUS ACTION Dominion Special Service. Auckland, May 7. .Still confined to his home, Constable E. E. Stewart, of the Newton Police Station, who had his right leg badly fractured in a brave attempt to arrest a motor-car thief last September, is making only slow progress toward recovery. Both bones of the leg below the knee were fractured when the constable was thrown off the running board of the ear whleh the thief apparently drove deliberately into a stationary vehicle with the object of dislodging him. The smaller bone has knitted, but the larger, which was fractured in two places, is still giving trouble. Mr. Stewart underwent an operation 10 days ago, when a number of pieces of bone were removed from between the two fractures. So far the latter have failed to knit, and it is possible a bonegrafting operation may have to be performed. In any case it will be many months before the patient has the use of his leg again. Mr. Stewart is still troubled by aftereffects of the shock that accompanied his Injury. He was flung 30 yards from the point of impact with the stationary ear. and beside his major injury he received a broken thumb and painful abrasions. The thief whom be overtook in Grey Lynn escaped, arid was not traced in spite of the most strenuous efforts by the police.. The injured constable faces the future with Cheerful courage, although it is doubtful if he will ever be fit for police duty again.