CHEATING DEATH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 30 September 1927, Page 8

CHEATING DEATH

EIGHT AMAZING CASES MIRACULOUS ESCAPES. THEN A DEATH FROM SHOCK. Sydney, September 22. When Raymond Longfoot fell 100 ft in a Sydney building this week, landed on top of a lift, and lived to tell the tale, his escape from instaut death marked the climax of an amazing series of miraculous escapes which have occurred in New South Wales and Victoria since September 1.

Longfoot, aged 17 years, is a plumber’s assistant, and was crossing a plank over a lift-well in a new building in Phillip street, Sydney, when he slipped and fell. He was unconscious when his mates lifted him from the top of the lift-well 100 ft below, but recovered before he reached hospital. Doctors found he had receiv cd only punctured wounds to the side, shock, and slight abrasions to the hands, face and arms. “It was just like a dream." was his comment on the experience. "A horrible nightmare, from which I have only just awakened.” He should be out of hospital in a wees. He is only one of eight persons whose, escapes from death have been little short of miraculous. At Newcastle, for instance. Douclas Woods and Mollie Campbell, dip latter learning to drive the "ar in which they were seated, plunged 250 ft over the cliff near the Bogey Hole. They were conscious when picked out of the wreck of the car. were hurried to hospital, and wese found to have only slight abrasions. Both were able to leave hospital m a week At Port Kembla. N.S W Ernest Kellskog. a rigger, was struck on the head by a falling iron plate weighing two tons. He was knocked flat, of course, but stood up again before his startled mates reached the snot. The plate was curved, and, beyond a hen’s-egg lump on his read, he was not injured In Melbourne. Noel Ramsburv. working at a clav n’t wheeled a barrow too near the edge, and the ground crumbled under his feet. Ten minutes afterwards he was picked up at the loot of a 200 ft drop, suffering from minor cuts and abrasions. Bella Forest, a young woman, shaped and fell from the Central Rail way Station, Sydney, striking her head on the rails and finishing in I such a position, unconscious, that I her head rested on the rails. A i train was even then pulling out of i the station, and the wheels were six i inches from her head, when a shunI ter, leaping between two carriage. ; broke the air-pipe, automatically I locking the brakes and stopping the ■ train.

Working at the top of a chimney HOtt high at Lithgow. John French, a rigger, fell to a roof 60ft from the ground. He was slipping off this, too. when the hell of his boot caught in the guttering and held him until assistance arrived. His only injuries were bruises. At Mascot Aerodrome, after a flight. Noel Marks aged 17. walked in front of an aeroplane and straight into the whirling propeller, which struck him to the ground. - He was on his feet in a second verv indignant. All he suffered were a lew cuts on the head. The other side of the picture is supplied hv the case of AVinnie Johnstone. aged 17 wears who. on Wed Riverstone railway station. Though nesday fell from a train at the her ininries were not serious, she was dead when picked up- Medical oninion is that the shock killed her.