MAN WITH BROKEN NECK.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9575, 28 July 1923, Page 7

M AN WITH BROKEN NECK.

ON THE MAR AM'A. RECOVERING IN SYDNEY. REMARKABLE CaSE. SYDNEY. July i:i. Just as the Maraina arrived in Sydney from Auckland 21 weeks ago conic of Hie unloading gear crashed, down on tlie head of A.doif Anderson, one of the crew, breaking his neck. .Anderson has been in Sydney Hospital over since, but he is almost better now. Doctors who examined him at the time held out little hope of recovery. But one day Anderson dropped Lis head on the pillow, and the impact sent his neck vertebrae back into place. His recovery is described as: little short • f a miracle. Anderson is by birth a Norwegian. He tried to enlist: in Sydney, but was turned down for defective oyo-ight. “Then,” said Anderson, “! packed up and wffiit to Canada, where the

regulations were not ro strict; and eventually got across to .France and saw three and a-liali years of fighting. Yes —I was wounded —it was only to l.e expected —was wounded twice. The first time was at Bourlon Wood. I get if with the bayonet. 1 saw the man coming at me with his bayonet. 1, had to be quick and dodged aside to mis- it. .1 did iniss it: with my body, but he gome in the arm. Afterwards I was wounded by shrapnel, and was out oi the line for good, but I got over- it. “Afterwards the war 1 followed the sea to and fro all over the world, and at Auckland eventually chipped aboa'd the Maraina for Sydney.” Anderson, describing the recent accident, said that on being struck by the gear, be was knocked unconscious, and when he was carried to Sydnev Tie—pita! it was found that ho had a bn,ken neck or a dislocated neck, wricli. he -ays, is practically the same thing. The doctors examined, him and held -tut little hope. On the third day Anderson had been lifted from his bed. an ! a nurse was busily engaged arranging the sheet- and nillows. On being nut back Anderson let his head fall hr. cl: on the pillow. But it was a few inches out of place. The single of impact was perfect. In two seconds Anderson’--nvertebrae went back • nto place. Thereafter it resolved itself into a question of medical attention and patient nursing.