Injured Man’s Ordeal

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 161, 11 July 1939, Page 8

Injured Man’s Ordeal

TOOK FIVE HOURS TO CRAWL HALF A MILE Per Press Association. ASHBURTON, July 10. An agonising journey of half a mile that took over five hours to accomplish and was covered on his stomach through three inches of snow while snow fell was the experience of Mr Thomas Taylor, aged 50, a cook, at Glen Fallock Station, Rakaia Gorge, yesterday morning, after a horse kicked him, causing a suspected broken thigh. Mr Taylor was the only person at the station. The accident happened at 10 a.m. and it was three o’clock before he reached the house covered with icicles. He managed to get inside, and by an effort he is too dazed to remember, removed his clothing and crawled into bed.

Two other occupants of the house, Messrs Hector Urquhart and J. Rouse, did not return till 11.30 and after giving him tea and food the two men performed the difficult task of transferring him to a motor packed with mattresses and blankets. A start for Ashburton was made at 2 a.m. in a freezing temperature. The first 20 miles was the worst, as the road was little more than a track over shingle fans and numerous streams. The greater part of this section was traversed in second gear. Mr Taylor joked with his companions ■s the car jolted from one rut to the other. Ashburton was reached at eight a.m. to-day.