PINNED UNDER WATER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25428, 8 January 1944, Page 8

PINNED UNDER WATER

SYDNEY DIVER’S ORDEAL (Air Mail) SYDNEY, Dec. 28 Douglas Lisson. a diver empioyeci by the Commonwealth Salvage Board, had a narrow escape while examining cables on the bed of Sydney Harbour. A large rock shifted and pinned him by the right leg for an hpur. He was rescued by another diver Ernest Bowater, and hauled to the top with a badly-bruised leg and in a groggy condition. , . . . The divers were working apart at the time of the accident. Lisson signalled to the surface that he was fouled, and a warning was sent down to Bowater, who promptly went to the rescue. a I couldn’t the rock more than an inch,” said Lisson later. “It was so big that I did not think Bowater would be able to move it. I was able to give it a push with both hands, and' this was the only assistance I could give.” Lisson said that Bowater undoubtedly saved his life. “ He’s a superman,” he added. “It was not too pleasant, but a diver has to take that risk, and he goes down knowing there is always a danger that he might not come up alive.” This was Lisson’s second escape from death under water. About three yeais ago, when laying cables on the harbour bed, his left hand was pinned. The hand is permanently injured.