Ordeal On The Sepik
p. 34 · Read in the full issue
AIF veteran Bill Lester is leave in Sydney recuperatt from a terrible ordeal he s* fered while on patrol as officer charge of the native hospital Ambunti, on the Sepik River, N' Guinea (said Sydney Daily Mir i of January 7).
Appropriately, he told us i story of his ordeal while he enjoy his first beer for a long time Usher’s New Guinea bar.
While travelling to Black Wai m a canoe during an examinati; of 1,000 natives, Lester burst artery in his throat. After tj days he was taken back by can to Ambunti where he crawled in bed.
Early in the morning he foui his pillow soaked with blood. Ve weak, he got the natives to can him to the radio station where sent a message for a plane.
Less than an hour later, Kei Hooper, of Mandated Lines, toucht down and flew Lester to Wewai “You’ve only got one chance; I cut into your throat to see if I ca locate the artery and tie it ofl said a New Australian medico, E Roth. He successfully perform! the operation and after a coup of blood transfusions Lester edgr away from death’s door.