SWIM FOR LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 171, 21 July 1928, Page 11

SWIM FOR LIFE.

FISHERMAN AND WIFE. ORDEAL ON HEN ISLAND. TWO DAYS WITHOUT FOOD. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. Soaked to their skins, cold and without food, after having been marooned for two days on Hen Island, Thomas Donovan and his wife, who were brought to Whangarei last night by the scow Moa, are suffering from exposure, and to-day Mrs. Donovan had to be sent to hospital. Donovan, who is a fisherman, left Whangarei Heads with his wife on Tuesday afternoon in the seaworthy fishing launch Hilary, bound for the Hen and Chickens to fish for hapuka. When the launch was running from one ground to another along the precipitous northwest coast of Hen Island, engine trouble developed. Dusk was coming on and the fisherman was unable to disoover the cause of the trouble. Meanwhile the vessel had drifted towards destruction on a lee shore, which afforded few landing places. Being without a dinghy, Donovan decided to swim to some rocks, which were only 50 yards distant, but this was dangerous owing to the surge caused by big rollers. Two boards were connected by a line, which Donovan looped round his chest. His wife gripped a board under each arm, and the pair jumped overboard, the husband towing his wife behind him. Some progress was made, but one board was lost, and Donovan then had to return to his wife's assistance and support her while swimming on his back. When the rocks were reached both had a desperate battle with the surge, but after being much bruised and cut they scrambled to a rocky ledge out of reach of the water. The launch stranded amongst some rocks a little way off the shore. Both castaways were scantily clad. Donovan had taken the precaution to place matches under his cap before starting, but. his cap was lost during the swim ashore. Soaked, cold, and foodless, the pair were in bad straits. The husband scraped out a hole under the rock, and there the pair spent a miserable night. In the morning an adventurous climb was made to the top of the ridge, where they remained throughout two days and another night, hoping vainly to attract the attention of some passing vessel. The ordeal of waiting had an cffect on both, and they were in dire distress yesterday afternoon when the §cow Moa sailed near enough for the crew to be attracted by their signals.

Their launch may yet be salvaged. Earlier reference to the rescue of the castaways will be found on page 10.