MAN FALLS 170FT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17409, 6 November 1930, Page 11

MAN FALLS 170 FT.

. FROM SYDNEY BRIDGE REMARKABLE ESCAPE SYDNEY. Oct, 24. “I am often working near the edge of the bridge, and on many occasions I have thought to mvsclf, ‘Now, if you ever fall, Hoy, you had better make sure that you hit the water feet first or head first.’ So, when and fell to-day, 1 concentrated upon saving my life. That is all that .1 thought about. It was the only thing in my mind; tho desire to live. I knew that I was very near death. I hit the water. I went under. There was a roar of water in my ears. My lungs felt as though they would burst Then 1 came to the surface. I was alive, marvellously alive.”

In these wprds Victor Roy Kelly, a boiler-maker, who fell front the Harbor bridge into the harbor, a distance of about 170 ft., yesterday morning, explained his feelings. He is now at the Mater Misoricordiae Hospital, suffering from shock and fractured ribs.

Numbers of ferry passengers ami workmen on t Jjc bridge saw Kelly, who lives at Woolwich, fall, and saw his body hurtling downward with terrifying speed. When in; struck the water, feet foremost, n fountain of spray rose 20ft. or more. One of the bridge workers, Thomas Moore, a man who once dived I.QOft. for a bet of 10s, was about to dive to Kcljy’s assistance, but was restrained bv other workmen.

Kelly reappeared, upon I lie surface in an almost incredibly short space of time. Reginald (.bomber dived from a bridge punt, and went to his assistance, but in his anxiety to effect a rescue he pushed Kelly under I lie water, adding to his difficulties. However, they botli clung to a buoy, and were rescued.