SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19828, 4 January 1939, Page 7

SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES

DISCHARGE OF GUN ACCIDENT AT AUCKLAND (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. A severe accident was suffered by Reuben Arthur Dexter, aged 32, married, of 30 Meadowbank road, Remuera, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on New Year’s Day with serious head injuries.

It is believed that Mr. Dexter was wounded in the head as a result of the sudden discharge of a .22 rifle re was carrying when he fell down a steep bank at Shelly Park Beach, near Cockle Bay. Other injuries of a minor nature are considered to have been caused by the fall among the boulders.

Although gravely wounded and weak from loss of blood, Mr. Dexter managed to walk nearly 400yds. to where he had left a dinghy in which he had rowed from his parent’s bach across an estuary to go shooting earlier in the afternoon. He collapsed on reaching the dinghy and although he had been seen walking along the beach his plight was unnoticed for a considerable time.

The injured man was conveyed with some difficulty to his parents’ bach, and he was taken later to hospital in an ambulance. His condition was serious.

Well-known as an enthusiastic motorist, Mr. Dexter was recently reelected chairman of the New Zealand Motor-Racing Drivers’ Association for a second term. He has competed successfully for a number of years in motor car races at the Muriwai Beach and Henning’s Speedway, and was the winner of the road race for motor cars held at Orakei during Prosperity Week some years ago. Mr. Dexter also races a midget car and took part in events at the Western Springs Speedway on Saturday night