SWIM ABANDONED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 30, 6 February 1928, Page 9

SWIM ABANDONED.

ACROSS COOK STRAIT.

"UNBELIEVABLY COLD."

WEBSTER'S PLUCKT ATTEMPT

(By- Telegraph.—Press Association.

BLENHEIM, Saturdav

Ronald John Webster, who tried to swim across Cook Strait, from Cape Tcrawhiti in the North Island to Wcl-j lington Head in the South Island, was I forced to leave the water owing to the! cold. He had been in tlie water for two! hours and a-quartcr, and had covered | about eight miles. j Though Wellington Head is in the] South Island it is actually north of Cape Terawliiti. where Webster entered the' water at 9.1.") a.m. It was anticipated that lie would benefit by a northerly set of the tide at that hour, but, as is often the case. Cook Strait was not amenable to the rules of the tide. A strong southerly set was encountered, which made the swimmer's task doubly hard. The distance between Terawliiti and Wellington Head is estimated in a straight lino at fifteen miles, though, on account of tides, a swimmer would probably have to cover at least twice that distance. Choppy Water at Start. The weather when Webster took to the water from a little beach at Terawhiti, where he was landed, was cold and dull, and there was a fog in evidence which obscured the South Island, though the Brothers Islands were visible. The -water was very cold, and there was at the time quite a chop in evidence. From the outset Webster spoke only twice, and on each occasion it was to remark on the cold. He was fed from time to time with egg flips and Bovril, which he consumed in the water, and he had been covered with tallow as some protection, from the cold, but it was obvious to all on the accompanying launch, who were glad to huddle in their great-coats, that the cold was too intense for the swimmer to face for a long time. Through the Terawliiti "Rip." Swimming a strong double overarm stroke, with scissors and crawl kicks alternating, Webster made good progress from the outset, though the southerly current steadily carried him along the North Island coast in the direction of Wellington. TBy 9.50 he was in the dreaded Terawliiti "rip," but he was clear of it within ten minutes, and at 10.19 was approximately two viiles off shore, on a line drawn between Karori Light and the Brothers. He then encountered rough water south-west* of Terawhati, and this held him up for

some time, while lie was then in the full grip of the southerly sot. and making little progress towards his goal. By 11.15 he was through the worst of his troubles. The sea was calmer, and Unwind appeared to be dropping, but lie reported that the water was colder than ever. At 11.20 he exhibited signs of distress, and, by floating, took his first rest since the start. The dinghy was manned and at 11.26 Webster was hauled aboard in a helpless condition, blue with cold and numbed all over. However, he responded quickly to restoratives, and was soon completely recovered. He stated that from the outset the water was unbelievably cold, and i< appeared to numb his brain. The launch reached To Awaiti at 2.3 ft p.m., and those aboard were amazed when Webster peeled otY and went in for a swim, "just to try out his muscles." He states that lie will again attempt the swim at a more favourable opportunity. Webster's pluck and determination in the face of difficulties made a very favourable impression on those in the launch.