ILLNESS AT SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23425, 15 August 1939, Page 10

ILLNESS AT SEA

MOTOE-SHIFS OFFICER CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE THE ACHILLES TAKES PART BRINGING PATIENT TO PORT Believed to bo seriously ill from no internal complaint, .an officer of the American motor-ship Tampa, en route from Sydney to New York, via Panama, will probably bo brought to Auckland for medical attention by the cruiser Achilles, which will arrive from Niue Island on Friday. Arrangements have been made at the Auckland Hospital to admit the pntient immediately on the ship's arrival. Advice of the condition of the officer was received from the Tampa, of the American Pioneer Line, by tho South Pacific Line passenger motor-ship Maetsuycker, which arrived at Auckland at the week-end. Tho two ships were then about 600 miles apart, the Tampa being nearly a week out of Sydney, and the Maetsuycker near Norfolk Island. As no ship's surgeon was carried by tho Tampa instructions for tho care of the officer were sent by wireless from the ship's doctor of tho Maetsuycker. Owirtg to difficulties of treatment, however, satisfactory progress was not made by tho sick man, and the Maetsuycker suggested that the Tampa should divert her course to Auckland, whero completo medical attention could bo given. The American motor-ship was ablo to get in touch with tho cruiser Achilles, which had just left Niue Island for Auckland and, according to advice later received in Auckland, it was probable that tho warship would pick up the patient. Tho steaming route across the Pacific from Sydney to Panama is a fairly short distance south of Niuo Island and it is likely that tho Achilles was within easy range of the Tampa.