Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 4, 2022 17:40:34 GMT 12
GALLANTRY BY N.Z. AIRMAN
AWARD OF BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL
SUCKED POISON FROM FIJIAN’S ARM
(New Zealand Press Association)
WELLINGTON, January 9.
A New Zealand airman who sucked the poison from the arm of a Fijian, after the latter had been bitten by a poisonous puff fish, was awarded the British Empire Medal in the recent New Year honours. This was one of two occasions on which Leading Aircraftman Thomas O'Regan, a serving member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, was instrumental by his prompt intervention in saving life, said the R.N.Z.A.F. Headquarters in Wellington to-day.
The first incident occurred late last year, when Leading Aircraftman O'Regan, a nursing orderly at the R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Lauthala Bay, Fiji, went to the assistance of an airman who had been overcome by fumes while working within the fuel tank of a Catalina flying-boat. Leading Aircraftman O’Regan entered the tank in the wing of the aircraft, and found a native employee of the station there, also overcome by fumes in an effort to help the other airman. Finding both men unconscious, Leading Aircraftman O’Regan tried unsuccessfully to drag the men out.
He then went in search of an oxygen tube. He administered oxygen successfully to both the airman and the native. He succeeded in dragging out the native, who was nearer the entrance to the tank. Leading Aircraftman O’Regan was himself partly overcome by the fumes. He had to be admitted to the station sick quarters for treatment.
On the other occasion, Leading Aircraftman O’Regan learned while off duty that a Fijian fisherman had been attacked by a poisonous puff fish. A bite by the fish is usually fatal. The man’s arm was badly infected and was swelling rapidly. Leading Aircraftman O’Regan promptly sucked the poison from the arm of the Islander, and saw him safely to hospital. The man lived.
Leading Aircraftman O'Regan, who is 26, joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1949. He was a member of the Royal Air Force for almost four years before coming to New Zealand. His home is at Ballinacurra, County Cork.
PRESS, 10 JANUARY 1952
AWARD OF BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL
SUCKED POISON FROM FIJIAN’S ARM
(New Zealand Press Association)
WELLINGTON, January 9.
A New Zealand airman who sucked the poison from the arm of a Fijian, after the latter had been bitten by a poisonous puff fish, was awarded the British Empire Medal in the recent New Year honours. This was one of two occasions on which Leading Aircraftman Thomas O'Regan, a serving member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, was instrumental by his prompt intervention in saving life, said the R.N.Z.A.F. Headquarters in Wellington to-day.
The first incident occurred late last year, when Leading Aircraftman O'Regan, a nursing orderly at the R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Lauthala Bay, Fiji, went to the assistance of an airman who had been overcome by fumes while working within the fuel tank of a Catalina flying-boat. Leading Aircraftman O’Regan entered the tank in the wing of the aircraft, and found a native employee of the station there, also overcome by fumes in an effort to help the other airman. Finding both men unconscious, Leading Aircraftman O’Regan tried unsuccessfully to drag the men out.
He then went in search of an oxygen tube. He administered oxygen successfully to both the airman and the native. He succeeded in dragging out the native, who was nearer the entrance to the tank. Leading Aircraftman O’Regan was himself partly overcome by the fumes. He had to be admitted to the station sick quarters for treatment.
On the other occasion, Leading Aircraftman O’Regan learned while off duty that a Fijian fisherman had been attacked by a poisonous puff fish. A bite by the fish is usually fatal. The man’s arm was badly infected and was swelling rapidly. Leading Aircraftman O’Regan promptly sucked the poison from the arm of the Islander, and saw him safely to hospital. The man lived.
Leading Aircraftman O'Regan, who is 26, joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1949. He was a member of the Royal Air Force for almost four years before coming to New Zealand. His home is at Ballinacurra, County Cork.
PRESS, 10 JANUARY 1952
