RESCUE OF ELDERLY MAN AFTER FALL OVER HIGH CLIFF

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23360, 16 September 1950, Page 6

RESCUE OF ELDERLY MAN AFTER FALL OVER HIGH CLIFF

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Sept. 15. Mr. David Gunn, a 63-year-old hero of many recorded and unrecorded rescues of Hampers and others isolated or injured in the Lower Hollyford Valley today was among the rescued. On Wednesday evening he fell from the top of a 200 lo 300 ft. clitl. His fall was broken by a. ledge 12 feet down where lie lay all night with several broken ribs and facial injuries. He was found at 10 a.m. yesterday by his assistant. Mr. James Speden and conveyed with difficulty to bis base. Mr. Speden then left for Marian Camp to notify the Ministry of Works start’ and assistance was called from Dr. L. G. Bell, Lumsdcn. who requested an ambulance from Invercargill. Dr. Bell and a party from Marian Camp reached the injured man early yesterday afternoon, and after giving him attention, conveyed him by stretcher four miles to an access creek where the ambulance was waiting after a 153-mile journey from Invercargill which was reached about 3 a.m. today. Looking remarkably well despite his injuries and lack of sleep for two and a half days, Mr. Gunn was visited early today by a man whom he rescued no later than Easter of this year. One of his most dramatic exploits was a 17-hour journey from Big Bay to CamPjMarian in December, 1936, with news of an air accident in which one man lost his life and several were injured.