LUCKY ESCAPE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27513, 6 October 1950, Page 3

LUCKY ESCAPE

Children Caught On Runaway Logs

When three heavy 15-foot macrocarpa logs on which they were sitting careered down a steep hillside two Oamaru children had a narrow escape from serious injury on Tuesday afternoon. They were Gavin McLean, aged five, and Shirley McLean, aged 3, son and daughter of Mr and Mrs A. McLean, Chelmer street. Both came out of their ordeal with nothing more than slight bruises and scratches.

Mr McLean was working further up the hill cutting wood when the accident occurred fie shifted a log, which was in his way, and in doing so knocked another 20-foot log in the vicinity. This began rolling down the hillside and hit the end of the three logs on which his children were playing. „ . ...... “ The three logs set off down the hill and when I looked up the children were bouncing up and down on them,” Mr McLean said. “ Luckily the logs kept together and the children managed to remain on top throughout. As I raced towards the logs I saw the girl disappear over the top of the front one. At this crucial moment they stopped. They had run against a further log which had checked their rush.” When he reached the logs Mr McLean found that his daughter had been caught face downwards under the leading log by the right leg as high as the thigh. His son was caught by the left leg between the middle and front logs, the middle one having jumped on top of the front one. Had the logs travelled another half turn the girl would have been severely injured, he said. The logs were so heavy that he had no hope of shifting them alone, but the screams of the children attracted neighbours and passers-by, who came to his assistance. The children were taken to a doctor and it was found that their injuries were of a minor nature.