RACE TO SAVE LIFE

Grey River Argus, 5 January 1946, Page 4

RACE TO SAVE LIFE

DRIVER’S TRIP WITH INJURED CHILD. P.A. WELLINGTON, January 4. In a successful effort to save the life of a four-year-old child, a fiur ried trip at the maximum possible speed was made to Paraparaumu bv a Wellington Free Ambulance driver. The child, Sally Champion, of 11 Agna Crescent, Khandallah, received serious neck and chest wounds and extensive bruises when she was knocked down by a car. The accident occurred on the Paraparaumu road, near the Raumati south turnoff. The headligh ton the car was shattered, and a glass splinter pierced the carotid artery in the child's neck, causing her to lose a large quantity of blood. A neighbour held the severed artery between his finger and thumb till the arrival of an ambulance more than one hour later. The child was taken to Dr. Paterson’s surgery and at his request an ambulance left Wellington Hospital in a race against time, carrying Dr. Scott, house doctor at the hospital, with a quantity of blood plasma. A blood transfusion which saved the child’s life, was given immediately, and another in the ambulance on tho return.

The child’s condition to-night was satisfactory.