GRAVE ILLNESS AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 29 November 1929, Page 12

GRAVE ILLNESS AT SEA.

STEAMER WITHOUT DOCTOR.

LINER GOES TO ASSISTANCE.

DRAMATIC WIRELESS CALLS.

DEATH OF ONE PATIENT.

News of a dramatic call for medical assistance, picked up in the Pacific Ocean on Novomber 7, was brought to Auckland by the steamer Min, which arrived from New York yesterday. The call was made by the H. M. Thompson Lino steamer Sithonia, of 6640 tons, and the Min was able to secure help from the Shaw, Savill and Albion Line steamer Tamaroa, which was on route from Wellington to London. Mr. H. Roberts, wireless operator of the Min, hoard the Sithonia's call early in the evening. Communication was established and the Sithonia, which was bound from Tampico to Brisbane with cargo, made an urgent appeal for medical advice. It was stated that three of the crew had become violently ill with a strange complaint, and all efforts to treat thorn had proved fruitless. The Min does not carx - y a doctor, and Mr. Roberts, who sent out a general call, managed to "tune in to the Tamaroa, By means of relaying messages the symptoms of the three sufferers on the Sithonia were explained to tho doctor on the Tamaroa. So strange were they that he was unable to diagnose the caso accurately. As tho men were showing signs of distress it was decided that the Tamaroa and tho Sithonia, which were about 400 miles apart at tho time, should meet the following day at an appointed place. Having done all it could tho Min continued its voyage to Auckland. Wireless messages received later from the Tamaroa slated that the Sithonia was met at eight o'clock next morning. Before the doctor went on board, however, one of the three men had died. It was found that the men were suffering from a severe form of heat stroke. The two survivors were treated and advice given for their care, and shortly afterwards the two vessels parted.