A PERILOUS ADVENTURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22421, 16 November 1934, Page 8

A PERILOUS ADVENTURE

WORKMAN’S UNTIMELY FAINT ACCIDENT ON HIGH SHEERLEGS UNCONSCIOUS VICTIM HELD BY MATES (Peb United Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 15. More than 150 ft above the ground at the top of the sheerlegs which this morn-ing-was sent toppling into the harbour from the Devonport naval base, a drama which might easily have become a tragedy was enacted this week. Only because of the fact that he was not alone at the apex of the 100 ton tripod, Charles Madigan, central figure in the drama, is alive to-day. With two workmen, Madigan, who is well-known as master of the Auckland Harbour Board’s floating crane Mabua, had climbed the long ladder running up the outside of the rear leg of the tripod to carry out some work at the apex. The job which the men were doing was the fixing of the heavy sling to facilitate the lifting of the structure after it had been dropped into the harbour. Madigan was perched at the top of the ladder, one of the workmen being on the anex of the tripod above and the other on the ladder immediately below him. In an endeavour to shift the heavy iron collar, which had not been moved for many years, in order that the sling might be effectively rigged, Madigan strained heavily on an iron bar, and suddenly the bar slipped, with the result that his two elbows jarred sharply on the tops of the two sides of the ladder. Fortunately for Madigan his body was pressed hard against the rungs of the ladder, and the jar did not send him hurtling backwards down the leg of the tripod. Although in considerable pain as a result of the jar to both “ funny bones,” Madigan did not immediately lose consciousness. . i i‘‘ Within the few minutes, however, no doubt partly due to the fact that the accident had happened 156 ft above' the ground, he began to feel dizzy. At first he thought that he would immediately attempt to descend the long ladder, but as he began to feel worse instead of better, he realised that such a’ course would be impossible. A few minutes after the accident, Madigan, still at the top of the sheerlegs, lost consciousness completely, but, fortunately for him, his two companions on the tripod were able to hold him as he lay across the top of the ladder. I Down below in the dockyard naval ratings and civilian workmen went about their various jobs totally unaware of the drama that was being enacted 150 feet above them. Neither of the two men who were with Madigan on the sheerlegs dared to go down for help, and all three remained at the top. When the injured man regained consciousness, he was helped to remain where he was until his strength came back; and then a careful descent was made to the deck of the jetty and safety. Altogether, it was estimated that Madigan was in peril for almost 20 minutes. “ I have never fainted in my life before, and it was a great place to pick to start .with,” said Madigan, who has heen in charge of the floating crane for 14 years and is widely known as a keen yachtsman. A coincidence is that an exactly, similar incident occurred some years ago, when a man who is now employed as a fireman at the dockyard lost consciousness at. the top of the sheerlegs and was held in security until his senses returned.