Caught by a Fall of Earth

Franklin Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 32, 22 March 1939, Page 4

Caught by a Fall of Earth

WORKMAN PARTLY BURIED MISHAP AT TUAKAU * VICTIAI SUFFERS BROKEN LEG NAVVY-DRIVER’S LUCKY ESCAPE Caught by a fail of earth while working on the new railway cutting just south of the Tuakau station about noon yesterday, Mr Harold Hi. Smith, aged 58, a married man, of Papakura, had his right leg broken. At the time of the accident, Air Smith was engaged alongside the mechanical excavator, which was working at the side of the cutting. This is about 28 feet high at this point. While the scoop was swinging out from the face with a load of spoil, the overhang above, collapsing without warning, sent the earth crashing across the floor of the cutting. The injured man, who was about 20 feet from the side of the face, was flung to the ground, and his mates, for a moment, feared that the worst had happened. However, they found him buried to the knees, and were compelled to dig around him before he could be extricated.

On examination, his right leg was found to be broken below the knee, and the knee injured. . The fall of earth piled high against the sides of the excavator, which was slightly damaged. The force of the fall moved one of the levers and this struck the driver. Air J. Carl, of Manurewa, who fortunately was otherwise unhurt. .

Eyewitnesses declare that if Air Smith had been a few feet nearer the side of the face he would have been overwhelmed by the fall and crushed. Some of the pieces of rubble which fell down with the cutting were over a yard in diameter and could easily have killed a man.

The injured man was treated by Dr. 11. S. Douglas, and taken by taxi to the Auckland Public Hospital where lie was admitted. . t —?