TUNNEL TRAGEDY

Grey River Argus, 27 May 1938, Page 7

TUNNEL TRAGEDY

Worker Trapped by Fall DEAD WHEN DUG OUT. SYDNEY, May 13. Trapped 30ft below Ash Street, City, when the roof of a partly-constructed tunnel collapsed, Sydney Cash, 40, of Marrickville Road, Marrickville, suffered a terrible, death. Rescuers worked frantically to reach him but he was dead when recovered. A companion suffered slight wounds when struck by falling earth. The two men had descended a Water and Sewerage Board shaft in a bucket used for hauling rock and dirt to the surface. i Thirty feet below the street level a .tunnel was being formed, and the men , were working there when the collapse .occurred. I It is estimated that nearly a ton of earth fell, overwhelming Cash, whose companion was on the outskirts of the fall. He was sent staggering, but was able to get free. He called out and ran to assist Cash. Other workmates hurried to help him. Not being sure whether or not their mate was dead, the men worked desperately. It was a dramatic struggle; and there was no certainty that another fall of earth would not occur. After long and exhausting efforts ■he rescuers reached Cash. His body had been badly injured, and it was considered that he was killed when I struck on the head by a piece of rock. SUDDEN DEATH. The body had been lifted free when [Central Ambulance officers arrived. Thev were lowered in the bucket; in which they later ascended with the body, which was removed to the city morgue. An ambulance officer said he thought that death must have occurred quickly. Cash, he said, had had no chance of escape. The fall of earth must have occurred so suddenly that Cash was knocked down as he turned- to run for safety. After the tragedv. th<> at th? shaft ceased work for the day.