BURMA TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1930, Page 7

BURMA TRAGEDY

THE SURVIVING AIRMAN. Rangoon, August 12. Mr. James Matthews, survivor of the flight which cost his companion, Mr. Eric Hook, his life in the Burmese jungle, intends to work his passage back to England shortly. Mr. Hook’s body, Mr. Matthews stated, was found seven miles from where, in order to seek help, he had left him in a comatose condition. It had been carried away and deposited by floods, and was only discovered after search parties had passed the spot several times. The Deputy-Commissioner sent out fully-equipped search parties, the members of which had a -knowledge of the country and realised the urgency of the task entrusted to them. He also sent messages to outlying stations to join in the search immediately, with the necessary instructions. The weather conditions were then terrible. Mr. Matthews said that he could not explain how he managed to reach safety.Regarding Mr. Hook’s condition when he left him, the airman said it was such that he could not have lived more than a day. He would possibly have shared the same fate if he had not been found within 24 hours. He sustained himself during the forest journey by chewing leaves, and did not touch available fruits, fearing they, might be poisonous. ■He lost 50lb. in... weight*