LOST BOY’S EXPERIENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16579, 7 November 1924, Page 10

LOST BOY’S EXPERIENCE.

A TRYING TIME.

TRAPPED IN THE MANUKA

The little hoy, Robert Hadwen, who was found yesterday afternoon after being missing since 8 o’clock on Wednesday morning, was reported to-day to have spent a fairly good night,,and although he is still unable to speak or cat. without difficulty it is thought that within a day or two he will have quite recovered from the results of bis unenviable experience. Further details of tho accident- show that tho boy had a. very narrow escape, and the fact- that several searchers were actually within n. few yards of him shows how closely lie was obscured by the clump of manuka, into which lie had fallen. As soon as it was found that

tiie boy was missing it- was surmised that be was within a. short- distance of home, as it was only about- 400 yards from the house that, lie had parted from his brother arid sister to return to the house. Tho boy’s mother bad immediate]-,* suggested that a. search bo made In the manuka, as this was a favorite playground of the boys, and as a- result the clump'of trees was searched on Wednesday evening and again yesterday. It was Mr:. Uadwen’s persistency that resulted in the lad’s uncle again looking in the manuka a.nd’ discovering him in his dangerous predicament.

The scene of the accident- is between Mr. Had won’s' house and the Hospital read. Fowl-runs have been built at. the foot of a, steep bank, and some years ago, the runs wore covered with heavy nia.iiuka, while other trees were planted around the runs. The latter have now grown to a large size, while the roof of the fowl-runs has collected a mass nf d-chvis which formed' a thick coating of leaves and dirt. The hoy, apparently, took shelter in the scrub from the rain and falling down the hank and through the growing scrub, landed on Ihe roof of the fowl-run. In most- parts the roof would have held him. hut his head and shoulders penetrated the structure, iiiid he was firmly held round the chest, hanging head downwards and covered wilh 1 lie mullock from on too of the fowl-run. It was Hotter some hours that he was missed, and! when n. search was made lie was so exhausted that- lie was unable to answer the calls which were repeatedly made. During the. evening lie saw his father searching in the vicihity with* a hurricanci lamp, but was unable to attract his attention, and! twice yesterday he saw others quite close to him, hut they had not observed him on account cf the manner in which the growing manuka had intertwined the roof of the fowl-run.

The boy does not appeal’ to be in a serious condition, apart from Tiis complete exhaustion, and a swelling of the throat and mouth caused bv the long time he was hanging uoside-down. So far lie has not been able to talk suflicicntly to give a detailed account of just what happened, but it has been made clear that after getting through the fence at the too of t-Jio. hank, ho overbalanced and fell into n. position from which ho was hnahle to extricate himself.