FOUGHT OFF SHARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 42, 19 February 1927, Page 15

FOUGHT OFF SHARK.

QUEENSLAND HERO. ATTACK IN RIVER. (From Our Special Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 11. > Similar in many respects to the j gallantry of Stanley Gibbs. who | attacked a shark which had fatallv bitten his mate at Port Hacking, in January, was the exploit of Bernard Gill, 011 the Brisbane River on Thursday. February 10. Harold Crowthers, with a number of other men was in a launch on the Brisbane River. A sudden yell attracted . his companions to Crowthers, who, they I soon saw, had fallen overboard.. Al- ' though fully-elothed. Gill, who was a member of the party, dived into the rescue without hesitation, for he knew that Crowthers was a poor swimmer. He reached Crowthers in a few j seconds, and then endeavoured to swim ! back to the launch, which was a fair ! distance from the shore. The current was found to be too strong,' however, and Gill, still supporting CrowtTier, j turned and made for the bank lower | down the river. By that time the . engine of the launch had been stopped. Suddenly, the onlookers saw what they thought at first was a porpoise swimming towards the two men in the water. There was, however, a thrill of horror | when it was realised that the fish 1 was a shark. Unable to go to the assistance of theit mates, the men in the launch, nevertheless, yelled a warning and made a noise with the object of frightening the monster. Gill realised, as soon as he looked round and sighted fhe fin cutting through the water, that the shark was about to ; attack. He could see that it would reach them before he could drag Crowthers to the bank. Momentarily, he let Crowthers go, turning on his back and kicking in the direction of the oncoming shark. He made a tremendous splashing, and it had the desired effect, for the shark turned aside. Again securing Crowthers, Gill reached the j bank after a further struggle. !