Paparoa Doctor Drowned: Lorry Plunged Into Creek

Northern Advocate, 12 April 1946, Page 4

Paparoa Doctor Drowned: Lorry Plunged Into Creek

Dr Victor Ryland Nicholson, superintendent of the Nurse Cavell Memorial Hospital at Paparoa, was drowned

as the result of a motoring accident at 8.30 last evening.

Dr Nicholson was A passenger in a truck travelling from Pahi to Maungaturolo. The vehicle crashed through a bridge into about 18 feet of water that was flowing in the tidal creek that runs off the Arapaoa River near Maungaturoto. The driver of the truck. Mr Richard Normal Kelsall. of Matakohe. was dragged from the cab of the vehicle by Mr George Dowling, of Whakapirau. a second passenger, who was riding in the back. * Mr Kelsall was admitted to the Te Kopuru Hospital. TRAPPED IN CAB In spite of the fact that he was unable to swim. Mr Dowling made every endeavour to free the trapped Dr Nicholson from the cab of the truck, but was unable to prevent the fatality.

Constable Yoeward, of Maungaturoto, eventually recovered the body from the truck and artificial respiration was applied for two hours, but to

no avail. Dr Morrison, called to the scene from Wcllsforri, pronounced life extinct. An inquest into Dr Nicholson’s death was held before Mr F. E. Cullen, district coroner, at Maungaturoto today. After evidence of identification had been given, the inquiry was adjourned sine die. Dr Nicholson had been at Paparoa for the past eight months, having arrived in New Zealand from England just prior to accepting this appointment.