BOYS SEVERELY BURNED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22711, 25 October 1935, Page 14

BOYS SEVERELY BURNED

TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE Two 14-year-old Newcastle boys L-d a terrifying experience after climbing a 170£t pylon on the north bank of the Hirer Tyne in England recently. When rescued they were unconscious. One had a catapult slung around his neck, the lingers of his left hand were burned off, and he had an injured foot. The second boy’s clothing was burned off Ids back, lioth wore taken to hospital. It is believed that the boys had climbed the pylon, which carries cables through which 06,000 volts pass, to shoot at seagulls in the river with a catapult. Their screams attracted tin attention of two men, who secured ropes and climbed to tbc top of the pylon. One boy was then unconscious and in danger of falling off the pylon. The other lad had managed to descend to a lower platform and was in a collapsed stale. Three police ollicors climbed the pylon, and when it was thought safe the boys were lowered to the ground by ropes which had to bn constantly swayed to keep them from coming into contact with girders.