FALL OVER CLIFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21345, 21 November 1932, Page 8

FALL OVER CLIFF

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE

WOMAN'S CRASH INTO SEA

ONLY CUTS AND BRUISES

WAIHEKE ISLAND ACCIDENT

After rolling 50ft. down a precipitous bank and then falling over 20ft. in a deep pool, narrowly missing sharp rocks, a woman who was climbing down a cliff overlooking a small bay at Waiheke Island had a fortunate escape from serious injury yesterday morning. The woman, Mrs. Julia Mundy, aged 42, who lives at 34 Prospect Terrace, Ponsonby, received only a scalp wound, a deep cut over one eye and extensive bruises. However, she also suffered severely from shock. The injured woman was one of a party of four who visited Matiatia by the steamer Duchess, the others being her husband, who is employed by the Post and Telegraph Department, Mr. E. Wilkinson and Miss G. Hill. Mr. Mundy has visited the island frequently during the past 15 months to fish, usually going to rocks in Owhanaki Bay, between Matiatia and Oneroa. After leaving the steamer the party walked round the cliffs to the bay, a distance of over a mile,, and then commenced to climb down a precipitous bank to a pool between some rocks. Able to Cling to Rocks

There was no track and Mr. Mundy descended first, Mrs. Mundy following him. When she was a short distance down she lost her footing on the dry grass and immediately commenced to slide. Before any other members of tho party could grasn her she had gained momentum and was rapidly carried down the slope 50ft. to a sheer fall into the rocky pool. By the time .Mrs. Mundy reached the edge of the straight drop she was falling at a fast rate, and fortunately shot across the rocks into the water, which was 15ft. deep. Had the tide not been full she must have received severe injuries, as the pool' is almost dry at low water.

During her fall Mrs. Mundy remained fully conscious, and although she was dazed when she struck the water she was able to cling to the rocks when she was washed close to them. Mr. Mundy hastened down the slope as speedily as possible and he reached the pool in time to seize her and drag her to safety. Timely Help from Launch

The other three members of the party were not able to take Mrs. Mundy, who was so extensively bruised that she could only be held by the arms, up the slope, and after giving her a short period in which to recover from the shock, assisted her round the shore to the nearest level spot, where she was allowed to rest for several hours.

While his wife was recovering Mr. Mundy set out to obtain help at Matiatia, the others remaining with her. When he arrived at Matiatia there was only one craft in the bay within hailing distance, Mr. L. M. Nathan's launch Atatu. Mr. Mundy explained what had occurred and the Atatu went round the coast to where Mrs. Mundy was resting. She was taken on board by dinghy and immediately brought to Auckland. On arrival Mrs. Mundy was removed by a St. John ambulance to the Auckland Hospital, where she was admitted shortly after 5 p.m. Although she was suffering severely from shock Mrs. Mundy's condition was reported last evening to be not serious.