Chichester Crashes

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6629, 17 August 1931, Page 7

Chichester Crashes

Seriously Injured and Plane Completely Wrecked

AIRMAN IN GOOD SPIRITS

PLANE CAUGHT IN ELECTRIC GABLES.

United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright. Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m. TOKYO, Aug. 14. Chichester, tho New Zealand airman, crashed at Katsuuro. to-day when he took off for the Kasmnigara airport. Ho was seriously injured in tho head and right leg, but the injuries are not expected to bo fatal. The machine was badly damaged. A later report stated that Chichester was slow in regaining consciousness after the crash. Ho was taken in a train to the hospital at Shingu where it was found that his injuries were not so serious as at first thought. . J-hc lacerations are expected to heal within a month. . Tho airman is in good spirits and says ho will continue his flight to Britain via the Arctic as soon as he recovers. The Prefectual Governor was instructed to render all assistance. Eyelids Lacerated, Body Bruised And Torn UNCONSCIOUS FOR TWO HOURS. Received Sunday, 8 p.m. TOKYO, Aug. 15. Chichester is in a critical condition due to injuries suffered to his eyelids and other parts of his body as ho droppod down in attempts made more than once to take off from nine in the morning. He met with unusual difficulty on account of unfavourable winds. The plane took off after 50 minutes, but immediately struck a suspended wire and dropped upon a stone fence at tho Hot Spring hotel. Chichester was pinned to the ground by the machine which was completely wrecked .

Tho townsfolk hurried to tho scene of the accident and. carried the aviator to a neighbouring hospital where it was found his eyelid was lacerated and other parts of the body badly bruised and torn. Ho was still unconscious at noou.