NEAR TO DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 21 February 1927, Page 8

NEAR TO DEATH.

» CHILDREN CAUGHT IN SURF. RESCUERS ALSO OVERCOME. TRAGEDY NARROWLY AVERTED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WHAXGAREI, Saturday. While a school picnic from Kauri was being held at Ruakaka this afternoon some of the scholars strayed across the sands to the ocean beach, about a mile away. Two girls, Winnie McMillan, aged 14, and Xaomi Graham, aged 14, entered the surf and were soon in difficulties, a swift outgoing tide carrying them away. Four young men—J. Mclnnis, W. McLeod, E. Coles and E. Codlin—plunged in to their assistance. The current was, however, so strong that the whole six were soon in difficulties. By this time there was great excitement among the onlookers. A boy named Selwyn Hirst ran a mile up the river and secured a boat, which was taken across the sand to the beach. Meanwhile some others had got a rope and W. Russell went out with it into the surf. He managed to bring the girl McMillan and Mr. E. Codlin ashore. Two other men—G. Cox and M. Lerangi— launched the boat through the surf and succeeded in rescuing the other four. The girl Graham, who had drifted out a quarter of a mile, was in an unconscious condition. Word had been sent to Dr. Rule, of Waipu, who, with Constable Maisie, went out in a car promptly arriving just as the rescue had been effected. After medical attention, the <nrl Graham was put to bed. All the others rw fan exhaus ted condition after fuj that any of them were saved. But for cnLb! l n at the r °P e and bo *t were procujab e all must have perished. Thev were m the water over an hour *