PLANE DIVES INTO SURF
LANDING TRAGEDY AT BIG BAY
YOUNG JOURNALIST KILLED
FOUR OTHERS INJURED
[Per United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, January 1. A Fox Moth plane carrying five persons crashed in the surf while attempting a landing at Big Bay on Wednesday. One passenger was killed and all the other occupants were injured. The machine was taking a party to Franz Josef Glacier and was making a halt to drop one passenger at the trampers’ hut at Big Bay, on the West Coast, about 30 miles north of Milford Sound. As the plane was landing the engine apparently stalled, and eyewitnesses saw the machine nose-dive into the surf from a considerable height. Those in the plane were: —
— Killed. Sutton Jones, aged 21, a journalist employed by the ‘Southland Daily News,’ of which his father, Mr Walter Jones, is editor.
— Injured. Sister Catherine Buckingham, of the nursing staff of the Southland Hospital, fractured right thigh, fractured left forearm, fractured pelvis, and scalp wounds.
George Ross, aged 31, of Clyde street, employed by Carswell and Co. Ltd., a fractured left, thigh.
W. E. Hunt, of Wallacetown, a son of Sir William Hunt, severe bruises.
A. J. Brawshaw, of Beatrice street, the pilot of the plane, severely cut on the head.
SUDDEN DIVE.
The accident as described by eye-witnesses to the Invercargill doctor who flew to Big Bay when the news was received, occurred with startling suddenness. The plane was expected by trampers at the hut in Big Bay. They were to be joined by one of the passengers, and they saw it approach about 4 o’clock. It was clearly visible above the sandhills, which, however, obscured their view of the beach. It was approaching the beach to land, when suddenly it seemed to go into a straight dive, disappearing behind the sandhills. Realising that it must have crashed, the onlookers rushed on to the beach and found the plane wrecked in the surf near the shore.
The pilot was able to help in the rescue of the passengers, in particular Sister Buckingham., who had to be carried ashore. A stretcher of sticks and flax was improvised, and the injured were taken to the trampers’ hut, some hundreds of yards across the sandhills.
Mr Jones, who had suffered, a blow on the head, was unconscious. He was extricated from the wreckage and brought to the beach, where efforts were made by artificial respiration to bring him round, but these were unavailing. It is thought that the blow he received immediately the plane crashed was such that he never recovered consciousness.
Fortunately, among those at the hut was Nurse Robins, of Invercargill, who, with the assistance of Miss Mehaffy, also of Invercargill, and Mr David Gunn was able to make the four injured persons as comfortable as possible until the arrival of a doctor by plane.
Sister Buckingham and Mr Hunt were brought back to Invercargill, and Mr Ross to Mossburn by the Southland Aero Club’s planes last evening, Mr Ross being transferred to ambulance at Mossburn.
The pilot, Mr Bradshaw, who had an air taxi license, was a frequent visitor to Big Bay, which, although easily accessible by plane, is in the heart of wild, unsettled country, and is very difficult of approach by land.
It was 24 hours before the news of the accident reached Invercargill, and this was made possible only by an extraordinarily fast overland crossing of 21 hours from the scene of the accident to the nearest telephone at the upper end of the Hollyford.
Such a trip usually takes three days, but Mr David Gunn, a farmer, of Martin’s Bay, near Big Bay, did it in less than one day, doing much of his travelling through the night.
The wrecked plane, a Fox Moth cabin machine, was purchased by the Southland Aero Club in 1932, and had just been overhauled and certified as in perfect order. It was under hire to Mr Bradshaw for a month, with, the option of purchase at the end of that period. The loss is not covered by insurance.
RESCUE PLANES.
News of the accident was received in Invercargill shortly before 4 o’clock on Thursday afternoon. Two Southland Aero Club planes, one carrying a doctor, left about 4.30 for Big Bay, each making the trip in about 90 minutes. It was essential that the machines should leave on the return trip in time to make a landing at the aerodrome before dark, so that all the doctor was able to do was to give such immediate attention as was possible within the short period to make the patients comfortable for the journey to Invercargill by air. The first machine carried back to Invercargill Sister Buckingham and Mr Hunt, and arrived at about 8.30. Before darkness fell, the other machine, with Mr Ross, could get only as far as Mossburn, where an ambulance was sent. Sister Buckingham and Mr Ross were taken to the Southland Hospital, and Mr Hunt went first to his home and then to-day to a private hospital.
Two trips were made pack to the city from Big Bay to-day, one plane bringing back the doctor and Mr Jones's body, and the other Mr Bradshaw. Mr Jones had served for four years on the reporting staff of the ‘Southland Daily News.’ He was educated first at Waihopai School and then at the Waitaki Boys’ High School. During his five years at Waitaki he represented the school at cricket, in which in his working years he continued his active interest, playing for the Union Club. He found time also to play frequently as a member of the Invercargill Lawn Tennis Club and of the St. John’s Badminton Club.
EPIC ENDURANCE FEAT
SETTLER'S DASH FOR HELP
The journey made by Mr David Gunn immediately after the plane crashed at Big Bay was described by those who were at Big Bay as an amazing feat, and the doctor said that by his covering the journey —usually made in four days — in 21 hours, much of it by night, Mr Gunn had possibly saved two lives.
One of the eye-witnesses of the accident, Mr Gunn did a big part of the rescue work. His knowledge of bushcraft was invaluable in the building of an improvised stretcher that made it so much easier in the carrying of injured passengers over hundreds of yards of sandhills to the trampers’ hut.
The rescue work completed, Mr Gunn set out on his tramp of nearly 40 miles for help. He walked four miles to Lake McKerrow, rowed 13 miles on the lake; and then walked, or rather climbed, 14 miles of track across the main divide, arriving at the Public Works camp telephone, placed at the camp in Hollyford Valley for emergency use, almost 24 hours after the accident had occurred. Only those who know the nature of the rough mountain country could appreciate the merit of the trip, and the almost superhuman speed with which it was done. The doctor said that experienced trampers would regard three days as very fast time for the trip, but Mr Gunn, who had previously worked untiringly in the rescue of the injured, made it in less than one day. The feat could not be praised too highly, and the quick time in which the news of the mishap had been sent to Invercargill had enabled much-needed medical assistance to be at Big Bay within a day.
INQUEST ON VICTIM
An inquest into the death of Sutton Jones, the victim of the crash at Big Bay, was opened to-night, and was adjourned sine die.
The acting-coroner, Mr James Ward, referred to the work of Dr L. C. McNickle, medical superintendent of the Southland Hospital, who flew to Big Bay yesterday. Mr Ward said the district was fortunate that' it had a “ flying doctor.”
It was reported to-night that the condition of Sister Buckingham and Mr G. Ross was satisfactory, and that Mr W. E. Hunt was fairly comfortable and his condition was quite satisfactory. -Evening Star, 2/1/1937.
A NEW ZEALAND HERO.
A tribute of admiration will be paid throughout New Zealand to Mr. David Gunn, farmer, of Martin's Bay. Feats of physical endurance such as that by which he took the news of the aeroplane crash at Big Bay to the outside world, and so possibly saved two lives, are seldom called for in these softer times, and there is a prevalent suspicion that the number of men capable of performing them is smaller than it used to be in pioneering days. But this time, at least, the occasion produced the man. The story of David Gunn, who accomplished in 21 hours a journey that usually takes three days, should be told to every child in the Dominion, and told in terms which will convince every one that such feats are more admirable and inspiring than the exploits of film stars, "he-men" wrestlers and speedway "kings." And Mr. Gunn should not be left without a tangible memento of the occasion. If it is impracticable to provide him and his few neighbours with a telephone service, it should be possible to equip the district with a radio transmitting set of the simple kind which has proved invaluable in the interior of Australia, especially when it is necessary to summon a "flying doctor." -Auckland Star, 2/1/1937.
FORMER RESIDENT OF WAIMATE
FARMER WHO MADE RECORD DASH FOR HELP
Mr David Gunn, the Martin's Bay farmer who figured prominently in the rescue work after the aeroplane crash at Big Bay last Wednesday, is a former resident of Waimate. According to the doctor whom Mr Gunn summoned from Invercargill, Mr Gunn had accomplished an almost superhuman feat in covering 40 miles of bush and mountain country in less than 24 hours to reach the nearest telephone. Mr Gunn, whose mother and sister live in Innes street, was educated at Waimate High School, and took part in cricket and football. He continued his active interest in cricket for several years after leaving school. He has been at Martin's Bay for five or six years now, and is 49 years old. His mother is a well-known resident of Waimate, being a link with the first pioneers of the district. -Press, 5/1/1937.
BIG BAY AIR CRASH
INQUEST ON THE VICTIM
ENGINE STALLS AT LOW ALTITUDE
(Per United Press Association) INVERCARGILL, May 1. An inquest was held to-day before Mr J. Ward, J.P., and a jury of four concerning the fatal air crash at Big Bay on December 30. Evidence was given by the pilot, Mr Bradshaw, and the passengers.
Mr Bradshaw stated that when he was preparing to land the machine stalled and he attempted to gain control, but the low altitude made this impossible.
The jury found that Walter Sutton Jones met his death when a plane piloted by Bradshaw crashed.
Mr R. C. Kean, chief inspector of aircraft, indicated that a departmental inquiry would be held later.
A Fox Moth plane carrying five passengers crashed in the surf while attempting to land at Big Bay on the West Coast, about 30 miles north of Milford Sound, on December 30 of last year. Mr Sutton Jones was killed and the other occupants were injured. The machine was taking a party to the Franz Josef Glacier and was to make a stop to drop one passenger at the trampers’ hut at Big Bay. The injured people were: Sister Catherine Buckingham, Messrs George Ross, W. E. Hunt, and A. J. Bradshaw, the pilot.
The accident occurred with startling suddenness. The plane was approaching the beach to land when suddenly it seemed to go into a straight dive, disappearing behind the sandhills. Realising that it must have crashed the onlookers rushed on to the beach and found the plane wrecked in the surf near the shore. The injured men were carried to the hut and made as comfortable as possible until the arrival of a doctor by plane from Invercargill. Later, they were taken in two aeroplanes to the town. The journey made by Mr David Gunn, who lives at Big Bay, immediately after the plane crashed was described at the time as an amazing feat, and by his covering the journey — usually made in four days — in 21 hours, much of it by night, he possibly saved two lives. -Otago Daily Times, 3/5/1937.
LOCAL AND GENERAL
An inscribed tablet of black granite, commemorating Mr David Gunn’s remarkable feat in securing aid for the victims of the Big Bay aeroplane accident on December 30, 1936, is now in position in a boulder in a prominent spot at the junction of the main road leading to the Homer Saddle with the proposed road along the Hollyford Valley to Martin’s Bay. It was from the public works camp at the junction of these roads that Mr Gunn telephoned for assistance. The inscription on the tablet reads: — This tablet was erected by the people of Southland to commemorate the magnificent journey made by David Gunn, of Martin’s Bay, to bring aid to the sufferers in the aeroplane accident at Big Bay on December 30, 1936. Mr Gunn made the journey from Big Bay to this point, a distance of 56 miles over bush tracks, in 20 hours. Through the “Southland Times”, a fund of £74 17s 6d was subscribed in order that Mr Gunn’s feat might be suitably recognised. The sum has been disbursed as follows: — Cost of tablet and engraving, £l9; Cost of erection of tablet, £6 5s 6d; balance handed to Mr Gunn, £49 125. -Ashburton Guardian, 28/1/1938.
RESCUE OF ELDERLY MAN AFTER FALL OVER HIGH CLIFF
(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Sept. 15. Mr. David Gunn, a 63-year-old hero of many recorded and unrecorded rescues of trampers and others isolated or injured in the Lower Hollyford Valley today was among the rescued.
On Wednesday evening he fell from the top of a 200 to 300 ft. cliff. His fall was broken by a ledge 12 feet down where he lay all night with several broken ribs and facial injuries.
He was found at 10 a.m. yesterday by his assistant Mr. James Speden and conveyed with difficulty to his base.
Mr. Speden then left for Marian Camp to notify the Ministry of Works staff and assistance was called from Dr. L. G. Bell, Lumsden, who requested an ambulance from Invercargill.
Dr. Bell and a party from Marian Camp reached the injured man early yesterday afternoon, and after giving him attention, conveyed him by stretcher four miles to an access creek where the ambulance was waiting after a 153-mile journey from Invercargill which was reached about 3 a.m. today.
Looking remarkably well despite his injuries and lack of sleep for two and a half days, Mr. Gunn was visited early today by a man whom he rescued no later than Easter of this year.
One of his most dramatic exploits was a 17-hour journey from Big Bay to Camp Marian in December, 1936, with news of an air accident in which one man lost his life and several were injured. -Gisborne Herald, 16/9/1950.
TOURIST TREK
SOUTH ISLAND SCENERY
(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, This Day. Descriptions of South Island scenic attractions, published in the English magazine, “Field,” were sufficient to start a number of English people packing their bags. They are coming to New Zealand shortly for the express purpose of visiting the Hollyford Valley, an organiser of tours in that district, Mr David Gunn, said to-day. He did not know when the party would arrive, and he expected it to be fairly small. However, there was a strong possibility of another party coming from Malaya with the same intentions. These tours are the result of an article written by Dr. Owen Fitzgerald, of Oamaru. Trout fishing, apparently, is a strong inducement. -Ashburton Guardian, 28/10/1950.
Tourism soon became a lucrative pursuit for Davey Gunn, although the lasting effects of his 1950 injuries hampered him. Davey died on Christmas Day, 1955, while fording a river by horse with a 12-year old visitor behind him. The horse stumbled and fell. When the horse stood up again, neither rider was to be seen and their bodies were never found. Davey's son, Murray, carried on his father's tourism concern, with Gunn's Camp - a converted Public Works camp bought by Davey in 1951 - becoming a well-known start or end of a Fiordland tramping expedition. At time of writing, the Hollyford Road to the Camp has been closed for some time after a massive downfall of rain damaged roads in the area and made the Camp unusable.
David Gunn was a mass of energy, physical andmental, always on the move from daylight till well after dark. As soon as he woke to find it daylight he was up and about, and I have been wakened by him arriving at the Barrier from deadman's at 2.30 in the morning, for him quite a common experience. He possessed a quiet sense of humour which found expression in sly digs at his companions. The singing and parties he arranged at the different camps will be well remembered, although Dave himself was usually too busy attending to the catering to take part. He was always confident in the success of his own projects, and this confidence was communicated to those about him, calming any anxiety for the trials ahead. Although his manner appeared easy-going, behind his shy smile lay patience and firmness.
Although he was not a member of the Club, those who met him soon found that his thoughts were not only fo rthe valley but embraced all who tramped the tracks, climbed the mountains, studied the wildlife, or simply admired the ever-changing scenery. Full of dreams for the area, he pressed for an investigation of an oil discovery at Madagascar Beach, while just recently he commenced forming a private air-strip, flying in a bulldozer piece by piece and tackling the tough project of transforming a bush clearing near Martin's Bay into a landing ground. About that time, when for once he was not the usual fit Dave, he mentioned that he would like to end his days at his favourite spot, by the placid waters of the tidal river at Davy's his quarters near Martin's Bay but - the river low, the weather fine, an unexpected stumble by a usually sure-footed horse - it was goodbye to a fine friend. -G Speden, NZ Alpine Journal, June 1956.
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