AS firemen scoured the shell of the Isle of Man holiday centre Summerland in the search for more bodies, and while many injured people lay in hospital, High Wycombe Post Office worked flat out in a "mercy dash" to take a special blood serum -- made by the Saunderton pharmaceutical firm of Ortho Pharmaceutical Ltd -- to hospitals on the island.
After hearing of the fire, which swept through the enormous leisure centre, killing more than 50 people and injuring many more, Ortho -- who produce a serum used to determine blood type -- decided that hospitals might be running low in supply.
They asked the Wycombe Post Office to help by using the immediate delivery system known as Data. Fifteen minutes after calling the Post Office, everything was arranged.
The Post Office alerted GPO headquarters and stations en route -- then the race was on.
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