WHELAN RESCUED

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1933, Page 5

WHELAN RESCUED

AFTER ACUTE PRIVATIONS.

WHEN MAROONED IN DESERT

(Australian tress Association )

PERTH, January 5. Advice lias been received from Forrest that Pilot Baker has succeeded in rescuing M. Whelan, the gold prospector. Whelan was found bearded and haggard, and he was still suffering from his injured hip. Whelan told a tale of acute privation. He said: “I was almost fancied when the Air Force aviators dropped the water last Saturday. If it had fallen one yard further away, I vvouia have been unable to reach it.” Baker’s aeroplane, accompanied by two Air Force machines, left Forrest to-day at live a.m. They arrived over Whelan at 7.30 a.m. Luckily, the wind favour d a f afe land ng, and a few minutes later Baker’s plane was in the air again with Whelan aboard. Whelan, in the course of an interview, expressed his deepest gr .titude to Pilot Harry Baker and also to the Air Force men, for dropping the food and water. Whelan walked eight miles on Saturday last in search of a waterhole, and he came across a camp of eight natives, all of whom were quite without food. Whelan said that he wondered how they lived. The temperature there was mostly I£o degrees. Pilot Baker has received scores of congratulatory messages on liis heroic exploit and its h?npy ending.