Driver Dies In Heat After Breakdown

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday February 11, 1992

SANDRA HARVEY

A post-mortem examination will be carried out in Adelaide today on the body of a 26-year-old Sydney surveyor who died from apparent heat exhaustion when his car broke down in an isolated area south of Coober Pedy on Sunday.

Senior Constable Richard Bach of Coober Pedy police said Mr George Loy, of Bondi Junction, was dead when a rescue team reached him at 9 pm.

Mr Loy and his companion, 26-year-old instrument technician Mr Christopher Pulford, of Artarmon, were 20 kilometres west of the Stuart Highway when their car became bogged shortly after 1 pm.

Constable Bach said both men decided to leave the vehicle and walk to the highway. However, at 6 pm, five kilometres from the roadside, Mr Loy collapsed.

"He became incoherent and disoriented, so his companion left him to get help. He gave him a road map to shade his head because there was no shelter,"he said.

Constable Bach said the men were carrying five litres of water between them.

A Coober Pedy hospital spokesman said Mr Pulford would probably be released today.

© 1992 Sydney Morning Herald

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