SHUNTING ACCIDENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 90, 16 April 1929, Page 11

SHUNTING ACCIDENT

BOTH FEET SEVERED. WELLINGTON, April 13. During shunting operations in Jhe Thorndon railway yards at about 7.30 last night, William Oman, aged 42. a married man with children, ami residing in'the Railway Settlement at Waiwarra, had both feet severed at the ankles by the wheels of a waggon passing over them. Goods wagons were being marshal L-d and Oman was returning across the tracks on the eastern side of the station after switching points, when suddenly a single truck came sliding out of the shadows on the northern side. He endeavoured to jump aside, and nearly managed to get clear, but fell, and the wheels of the truck passc i over his legs, severing the feet at the ankles. A stretcher was procured, and after the injured man. who was quite conscious, had had tournequets applied to his legs, he was conveyed to hospital. At. the scone of the accident the yard is not very well lighted, the nearest floodlight being some distance off. ami in the smoky atmosphere, such as last night, the ordinary electric lights did not give much illumination. Several lines run parallel within a short distance of each other, and as a shunter remarked last night of the wagons and engines, ‘ They’re coming at you all ways. ’ ’ On Christmas Eve a shunter was killed at the same spot, and another shunter mot his death recently on the western side. Oman arrived in Wellington from New Plymouth three or four months ago. _