PINNED UNDER WATER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 7

PINNED UNDER WATER

MAN IN WRECKED CAR

BRAVE ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, September 20,

James Simos, 42, of Cootamundra (New South Wales), Where he was part-owner of a picture theatre, lost his life when a motor-car he was driving crashed through the railings of the Spit Bridge, crossing Middle Harbour, an arm of Port Jackson, into about 15ft of water. He was trapped in the submerged car for twenty minutes.

It is possible that Simos died suddenly or was killed by the crash and that death was not due merely to drowning. Inspector Wenham, of the Manly police, was informed that Simos had been treated by a doctor in Sydney, and that he afterwards telephoned his wife at their temporary address at Manly and said he would be home at 7 p.m, Simos might have been saved if his right foot had not caught under the front seat, pinning him so tightly that a crowbar was needed to release the body. Witnesses told the police that the car was travelling about 30 miles an hour. It swerved on the bridge, rebounded from the dividing rail in the centre of the road, and plunged through the outside railings, tearing away six panels. The roof and other portions of the body were torn off. The car struck the water with a tremendous splash and settled 'down upright in fairly deep water. Desperate efforts were made to save Simos. Scores of men risked their lives in the darkness. Constable Pinner at length dived through the jagged opening in the roof of the car and found Simos, whose right leg was jammed. Constable Pinner became exhausted and was forced to the surface. Men with ropes dived and attached them to different parts of the car. Teams of men on the bridge seized the ropes, which snapped repeatedly. The car had evidently jammed between large rocks. After about twenty minutes three sets of ropes were attached to the car, which was raised above water. Members of the Manly Ambulance then smashed one of the windows and held Simos's head above water, while the catwas slowly pulled under the to a narrow sandy beach. Members of the Manly and Central District Ambulance unsuccessfully applied artificial resuscitation methods. Police had hurried to the scene by launch with mechanical resuscitation apparatus and supplies of carbon dioxide. These were also ineffectual. Simos's right leg was fractured.