FATAL WOUND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22948, 28 January 1938, Page 10

FATAL WOUND

DEER-STALKER'S DEATH SHOCK AND LOSS OF BLOOD FRIEND'S FALL DOWN SLOPE DISCHARGE OF RIFLE CAUSED [by telegram—OWN correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday Shot in the leg by the accidental discharge of a rifle while out deer stalking on Mount Algidus station yesterday afternoon, a member of a party died, apparently from shock and loss of blood, before help and medical aid could bo brought. The victim was: Mr. Henry Tuck, aged about 32, a native of Launceston, Tasmania. Mr. Tuck was employed as a shearer at the station. With a party of six, Mr. Tuck left tho homestead about one o clock on Wednesday afternoon to look for deer on the Mathias, or southern, slopes of tho home range of Mount Algidus. Ihe party later split up, Mr. Tuck and a companion, also a shearer at the station, climbing up rough slopes to some height. They had one rifle between them and each fired one shot at a deer, Mr. Tuck claiming that he had hit it

Bullet Strikes Knee

The two men went down a steep gully to try to find the tracks of th*» wounded animal and stood on a largo boulder to look well down into tlip bottom of the gully. Mr. Tuck's companion, with a rifle slung over his right shoulder, started to go further down the slope, but his foothold gave way and lie slipped. He slid about three feet on the broad of his back and the rifle, which was not cocked, exploded.

The bullet struck Mr. Tuck, who was behind and slightly above the first man, in the left knee, about half an inch above the kneecap. The leg was badly broken and some arteries were severed.

Run lor Assistance

Mr. Tuck's companion made a tourniquet with his belt, strapping the leg very tightly and, after making Mr. Tuck as comfortable as possible, set out at a run for the homestead, about three miles away.

Although he was fairly well exhausted by the time he reached the station, he accompanied a party organised by Mr. R. Anderson, manager of Mount Algidus, which went out to Mr. Tuck's assistance. Good speed was made on the way out, but when they came to within half a mile of the scene Mr. Tuck's companion described the place where the accident had occurred and then collapsed. Found Dead by Party The rest of the party went on, but Mr. Tuck was already dead when they found him. C. E. Reid, of Darfield, was called as soon as the accident was reported, but the approach to the Mount Algidus homestead is difficult and it was five minutes before midnight when he arrived. Constable Barwick, of Coalgate, in whose district the station lies, left for the scene early this morning and returned in the evening with the body.