MINER INJURED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21155, 3 July 1940, Page 8

MINER INJURED

FALL OF COAL MAN COMPLETELT BURIED SMART RESCUE WORK Serious injuries were received by a miner employed in the Renown coalmine, Huntly this morning when he was completely buried by a fall of coal. The miner, who was working with a mate, was very smartly rescued and was admitted to the Waikato Hospital less than an hour and a-half after the accident occurred. The injured man was Thomas McEwen, aged 27, a single man. He was admitted to the hospital suffering from concussion, internal Injuries and injuries to the neck. He is in a critical condition. The fall occurred about 10.30 this morning when McEwen and his step father, Mr W. Donaldson, were working together in a pillar in the mine. McEwen was completely buried by the fall, which came directly down on top of him, and his step father immediately called for help. There were a number of men in the same section and in a few seconds up to 3C men were engaged in relays in shifting the coal. Meanwhile the mine-head had been notified and a doctor and an ambulance summoned. Ambulance Diverted Fortunately Mr Donaldson knew exactly where McEwen was buried and it was not long before he was extricated. The doctor was waiting at the mine mouth when he was brought out and he immediately received attention. The St. John Ambulance station at Hamilton had been notified at the time of the accident and although both ambulances were out then one going north was intercepted by telephone at Ngaruawahia and immediately diverted to Huntly. The ambulance was on the scene by the time the doctor had finished attending to the victim. The fall of coal was not sufficiently big to cause a blockage in the main outlet passages.