CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1928, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

FOOTBALLER’S SHOCK.

(Special to “Star.")

CHRISTCHURCH, August 23.

Balfour Marshall, an electrical appentice, in the employ of the Public Works Department, well known as a member of the Christchurch Rugby Football Club, received a shock of 33,000 volts recently, but is still alive to tell the tale. At present he is in the public hospital, suffering from severe burns on his hands and feet, but is making very satisfactory progress, thanks to his physical fitness, and the promptness with which he was attended to by his fellow workmen and the doctor. Marshall was working at the switching station at Stoddart’s Corner, Taitapu, which supplies the Taitapu Dairy Co., Springs —Ellesmere Power Board, and Banks Peninsula Power Board. He was up a pole attending to the high tension switch, and presumably lost his balance, with the result that his hand came into contact with the terminal switch, which was carrying 33,000 volts. He collapsed, but the promptness of his fellow workmen certainly saved his life. They immediately applied resuscitation methods, and restored life in about five minutes. Mashall was then taken to the home of Mrs. Stoddart, across the road, where lie was put to bed, and attended to by Mrs. Stoddart. In the meantime, Dr. E. J. Cooke, of Lincoln, had -been summoned. . He was on the fccene in about twenty minutes. He Uressed Marshall’s burns, and the patient was conveyed to the public hospital. Through his being a footballer, and consequently in good condition, Marshall has escaped the reaction which usually follows severe electric shocks. His fitness enabled him fight this off, so at present he is suffering from his burns only. The most severe burn is beneath the right toe. Between Marshall’s arrival at the public hospital and the accident, there was a lapse of' about an hou(r and a half only.

AN ACCOUNT PAID. In the Magistrate’s Court, to-day, the Christchurch Press Co. claimed from William Kyle (Mr. Patterson), the sum of £2 13s (for newspaper subscription, which defendant claimed to have paid. The action, however, was discontinued, and as a result the defendant asked for costs of the application, to take evidence at Greymouth. Defendant ws allowed 2/- costs only, the Magistrate holding that defendant should have adjourned the case, instead of proceeding with the application to take evidence.