Bush Mishap

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* BUSH MISHAP It was 6.30 a.m. The menu said eggs. ing the crossing at Smiths Creek more Little did I realise I would eventually awkward than difficult. Stretcher have them hard-boiled several hours later carrying on a narrow track usually in the Tauherenikau Valley. I had just means one line of carriers is always finished changing at the Shelter Hut pushed of the track which usually prewhen a motley assortment of F.E.s sents you with the choice of being arrived by army truck to make up, the strangled by supplejack, knocked cold by carrying party. We were amused to hear the stretcher coming down on your head, the army driver remark that he would or just plain having nothing to walk on. probably have to wait a few minutes The slog the Puffer while we brought the bod. out. Don up required all Jeffs made a suitable reply. On over the hands, with those not carrying pulling on Puffer with the fit types soon leaving ropes in front of the stretcher. When me behind. I pushed on in the hope that occasionally someone trod on another the party who were with Peter would persons foot, the odd word of abuse have brought him as far as Smiths, but was heard, but of course these were this was not so, and I eventually located regarded as being only a temporary lapse the party on the river bed just below of good manners. The gorse at the top Alloway Dixon having a brew, with of the Puffer was negotiated by having Peter looking comfortable on his four persons carrying the stretcher bestretcher. tween the poles changing every two minutes. Slippery conditions were en- At 12 p.m. we left on the first stage countered on the other side and the rope to Tauherenikau Hut with the carrying had to be used as a restraint on the at this stage reasonably easy. Easy that stretcher to ensure that Peter and his is compared with carrying Nick Jenning's carriers arrived at the Shelter Hut at pack. With a total carrying party of 24 roughly the same time. split into three teams of eight each Our patient was finally deposited in carrying for 20 minutes at a time, it the waiting ambulance at 5.15 was good to see a spirit of willingness p.m. and co-operation coming to the force. For some reason the driver didn't look A short stop at Tauherenikau Hut and very happy. we were away again in heavy rain mak- JIM QUINLAN.