AGED MALAY'S ORDEAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22769, 1 July 1937, Page 16

AGED MALAY'S ORDEAL

STRAPPED ON TO CAMEL

LONG RIDE WITH BROKEN LEG

With a doubly fractured and mutilated leg, a 90-3 r ear-old Malay named Joby rode for six days, strapped to a camel, in the Australian outback. Then he madp a 100-mile ride in a truck to Wyndhain. Details of this amazing 'experience wero revealed when he arrived at tho Wyndham Hospital recently. . The Malay, tho owner of a team of camels, was kicked by a half-wild horse while ho was attempting. to drive it ahead of him to Wild Dog Creek. One of the' flying hooves caught him on one leg, breaking both bones and throwing him to the ground. He was more than 40 miles from the nearest habitation, Argyle cattle station, and 150 miles from any medical assistance. Ho Had no alternative other than to call one of his camels, which came and knelt besido him.

Then slowly and painfully the injured man clambered on to its back and strapped himself securely on. Although at times his agony must have bcon almost unbearablo he forced tho camel toward Argyle, which ho reached after six days of lumbering heart-break-ing travel. Ho was more dead than alive when he reached the cattlo station.

Mr. C. Ahearn, a Wyndbam truck driver, was at Argylp finishing tlio unloading of stores. "The Malay was in a bad way when his camel reeled in to Argyle," ho said. '' The bottom half of his leg was just swaying with every step the animal took, 1 fixed a splint for him and travelled all night to got him to hospital without further delay." In spito of his ordeal the Malay's condition was later reported to be improving.