INJURED IN QUARRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 16, 19 July 1939, Page 17

INJURED IN QUARRY

DELAYED EXPLOSION

MEN BACK AT THE SPOT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, July 18

One quarryman was seriously injured and another had a remarkable escape when a delayed explosive charge being used in a Public Works quarry near Taupaki caught them unawares. The injured man, Walter Raymond Fitton,. aged 52, Auckland, was brought in an ambulance to the Auckland Hospital, but his companion, Mr. T. D. Menzies, was unhurt. They are two of nine men in the camp.

"It happened at about half-past eight this morning," said Mr. Menzies. "Wally (Fitton) and I put in two shots about six feet from the floor of the quarry, fired them, and then went a safe distance away. There was an explosion and it sounded to both of us like a double one, as if both charges had. gone off at once. We thought that was so and went towards the face. 4 ;•■■•

"For some reason or other I didn't

go straight towards it, butVa little to the right. Wally was about ten feet away from the face, right in front of where we had laid the two charges, and I was about six feet to the right of him when suddenly there was an explosion and about 15 yards of rock and earth came straight out.

"As soon as I heard the bang I I threw myself on my face: I got up and Wally -was lying on top of a heap of rock. I could see he was badly hurt. I called out to one of my mates to look after him while I went to get a doctor."

The injured man was fully conscious almost throughout the morning, but he stoically bore the journey from the quarry to hospital. He received extensive injuries to the head and chest and his condition is very serious."