CAR OVER CLIFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 15

CAR OVER CLIFF

OCCUPANTS' PEEIL NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH TWO MEN RESCUED WITH ROPES [bt TELECRAPH —OWN" correspondent] "WANGANUI, Tuesday Some hours' difficult and dangerous work with the aid of ropes was necessary on Sunday afternoon to rescue two men, one of whom was seriously injured, from a perilous position in a clump of trees growing on the cliff face high above the Mangawhero River, in which they and a motor-car in which they had been travelling had luckily been caught after the vehicle skidded off the road.

Mr. James Henry, a storekeeper, of Kakatahi, was driving on the Parapara Road from Kakatahi to Raetihi, accompanied by Mrs. Henry and their 12-year-old daughter and a friend. When about 11 miles from Kakatahi, and .on the peak of a very high hill, the car skidded and went over the edge of a cliff. Gathering speed as the descent bocame steeper the car toppled over about four times, damaging the hood. Mrs. Henry clutched at some' toitoi growing on the side of the face', and, hanging on tightly, managed to get clear of the car. Her daughter was also fortunate enough to get clear in a similar manner some 100 ft lower down, but Mr. Henry and the fourth occupant of the car were not so lucky. From where Mrs. Henry had freed herself the cliff became steeper and the momentum of the car's descent became greater as it rolled down, until-'finally it was caught in the branches of some trees right on the edge of a sheer drop of some 500 ft to the Mangawhero River. Mr. Henry and his companion were thrown out, and were caught in the trees, which prevented them from crashing into the river and thus to certain death. Mr. Hdnry was very seriously injured, but 'lis companion escaped with a few bruisas. The cliff in the vicinity was absolutely inaccessible, ancl it was impossible to climb back to secure assistance. In the meantime Miss Henry had reached the road and obtained assistance from passing motorists, who helped Mrs. Henry to safety. She was very exhausted and badly bruised when help arrived. The aid of workmen and others -was necessary to rescue the two men, and this difficult task took some Lours, ropes having to be used.