RESCUE IN SIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 30 November 1927, Page 3

RESCUE IN SIGHT

BUT LOST MAN COULDN'T SFEA£ TONGUE SWOLLEN WITH THIRST TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS SYDNEY, 18th November! The appalling ' experience, when he had suffered two days from thirst and heat, of being unable to summon assistance though it was at hand, befell a bushman in the country near the Murray River, South Australia, .this week. He is James Morris, and he' had become lost in the wild country thereabouts during the currency of a heat wave which swept from cast to west of Australia during last week. Morris Was lost for two days,' during which he endured untold suffering.. Ho reached the stage-when" he could noE stand up, and in the terrific heat was able only to crawl to the shade of a tree. He had had nO water for the two. days, and was hungry, also. His tongue', was swollen and he collapsed, awaiting what he thought must be certain death. To alleviate his sufferings ho' tore off all Jus clothes. This did not ease his condition, which was made worse by "the fact that the glare of the sun induced partial blindness. .-.'.■ Then, in the distance, he heard the sound of a motor car 'approaching/ He struggled to. his feet and attempted- io call out for help. But no sound came. His tongue was., so swollen that it absolutely forbade articulation.- Again he collapsed, the disappointment being awful. At'.night, when, there was' some measure of coolness, lie rallied siiffi-, ciently to take an interest in his surroundings, and was attracted by lights.of a motor car, which appeared to bo stationary. Morris called all* of his remaining strength together, and, after hours of struggling through the bush, in the direction of the lights, staggered on to a road, where,two men were attending- to.their car, which had broken down. '■• Unable to speak,.he fell at their feet.., But. his" appearance was enough. , They started the car in, a few minutes,.and rushed him to Renmark Hospital, where,lie was admitted; It is believed that : he will recover.