TRAPPED IN FREEZER

Evening Star, Issue 22413, 10 August 1936, Page 12

TRAPPED IN FREEZER

AN AWKWARD DILEMMA WALL HACKED THROUGH WITH MEAT HOOK [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 9. Tearing his way with a meat hook through the walls of a freezer in which ho was imprisoned, an employee of the Auckland Meat Company Limited fought for two hours this morning before his struggles were heard and he was released. He was M. Hampton, of Remuera, the only employee on duty at the company’s Wakefield street cepot, and in spite of the long period which he spent in a very low temperature he was not affected, and was able to go home later.

Hampton entered the freezer, where the temperature is between 15deg and 20deg, to read the thermomenter, and pulled the door behind him. Unfortunately the catch locked and he was unable to open it. Realising the danger of being imprisoned for a long period, and in an effort to keep warm Hampton immediately attacked the wall with a meat hook in an endeavour to break his way out. The wall of wood and compressed cork is about Sin thick ,but when Hampton ha/l reached' the outer skin the noise of "his efforts was heard by a visitor to the shop, and he was released. _ At that stage he could have freed himself by working for about another three-quarters of an hour. Suffering slightly from shock, Hampton was taken to the Auckland Hospital, but after treatment was able to go home. He went to bed. hut later got up apparently none the worse for his experience.