NEARLY HANGED

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1937, Page 5

NEARLY HANGED

YOUTH’S CLOSE CALL NEW PLYMOUTH, December S. A narrow escape from death by strangulation was experienced by a youth, Reginald Watkins, at Tuna, near Stratford. He was cut down and saved by his eight-year-old sister after he had become accidentally suspended by the neck on a rope. Two small girls were swinging on a rope in their back .yard when they were joined by their brother, Reginald, who apparently climbed on a box beside the rope. Ho slipped and somehow the rope became twisted round his neck and he was suspended in mid-air. At first the young girls thought that he was playing, as he kicked frantically to clear himself, but as his actions quietened and he hung inert, the elder of the girls, Clara, realised that the position was serious. ,

Shouting to the younger child to rush to the house for their mother, she snatched up a nearby saw and hacked at the rope above her brother’s head. When Mrs. Watkins arrived, Clara had cut her brother down, but the rope was still twisted tightly around his neck and had to be cut free with a knife. To all appearances' the youth was dead, but Dr. W. P. Gordon, of Stratford, who answered an urgent call, was able to revive him. Dr. Gordon stated later that a few more seconds’ suspension would have been fatal. Undoubtedly only the prompt action of the eight-year-old girl saved her brother’s life. The youth is a son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Watkins, residents of the Tuna district.