AGED CRIPPLE’S DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 10

AGED CRIPPLE’S DEATH

TRAPPED IN BURNING HOME <From Our Own Correspondent i SYDNEY, Jan. 6. Heroic efforts by several men failed to save a 76-year-old onelegged man who was trapped in his blazing bedroom while asleep. He was hurried beneath the ceiling, which had fallen in flames. The old man, James Sharkey, had hopped from his bed to the centre of the room, but, apparently, had fallen there. Unable to rise Without the aid of his artificial leg, Which had been removed before he went to bed, he apparently tried to crawl t- the door, but was overcome by heat and flame.

Thomas Lavery, a milk roundsman, was passing in his cart when he saw the fire. Calling for help, so ti. ut neighbours would be awakened, he ran to the front door, knocked, and called out. When his calls were not answered he tried to smash in the door with his shoulders. Failing in that he kicked it in, and was met by a sheet of flame and a thick cloud of smoke. At the risk of his life, Lavery entered the cottage, the centre of which was blazing fiercely, and reached the door of Sharkey’s room. He could see nothing but flame, but groped around, searching for anvone who might have been inside, until, weak and on the point of collapse, was forced to go out for fresh air. Two other men who had heard his calls, immediately went into the house, but also were driven out bv flames. Meanwhile a woman had called the fire brigade. Station-officer Edwards, when told that Sharkey had not been seen, unhesitatingly ran into the house. “It was a blazing inferno,” he said later. “ The heat was terrific, and the smoke so thick that breathing was almost impossible. There was no' possibility of entering the room in which the fire occurred.”

While in the house Edwards heard an ominous noise above. The ceiling was about to fall. If lie had remained there he probably would have been killed. The ceiling fell a few moments after he had left. As soon as the firemen had beaten back the flames in Sharkey’s room they found the old man’s remains beneath the charred ceiling. After his attempts' at rescue, Lavery remained to help the firemen. Then he continued with his milk run. “It was impossible to save the old chap,” he said. “ When I was on the front veranda I heard an electric light bulb inside burst. As I went along the hallway the heat and hot air burnt my throat. I remained there as long as I could.” When the adjoining house caught fire Lavery dashed in and helped neighbours to drag the furniture into the street. “If anyone’s milk was late,” he said, “I am sorry. But they will understand.”