WOMAN OVERBOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 157, 6 July 1931, Page 8

WOMAN OVERBOARD.

FERRY STEAMER RESCUE.

PASSENGER'S PLUCKY EFFORT

LIFEBOAT QUICKLY LAUNCHED.

The ferry steamer Peregrine, which left Auckland for Stanley Bay and Devonport at one o'clock yesterday afternoon, was about "200 yarde from the end of Queen's wharf, and well into the deepest part of the channel, when there was a. shout: "Somebody's overboard!" A woman had climbed over the parapet surrounding the lower deck, and had thrown herself into the sea.

Captain W. Poole immediately gave the "stop." signal to the ■ engine room, and followed it with "hard astern/' directing the steamer back towards the spot where the' woman was' clearly to be seen. The air in her clothing supported her, and she 'was striking out with both arms, keeping her head out of the water. As the ferry boat drew towards her, one of the passengers, Mr. Joseph Larritt, of Stanley Bay, dived in to the woman's rescue. Two lifebuoys had been thrown towards her, but they had fallen short, and Mr. Larritt was able to hold the woman up until he could grasp one of the buoys. In the meantime, Mr. Joe Hodgson, mate of the ferry steamer, had done a particularly smart bit of work in unlashing the ship's lifeboat (which lies astern near the anchor), and launching it. Gettiiicv the oars clear, he rowed quickly to the man and women, both of Avhom were struggling for dear life. The woman was, almost exhausted. By this time the Peregrine was alongside the pair, and Mr.' Larritt was seen to be holding the woman up whilst he clung to the buoy. • | Both were hauled aboard, and both j collapsed. The passengers on the steamer j were naturally upset and apparently they did not realise that it might be disastrous to keep rescuer and rescued in the open air. Fortunately the woman was carried downstairs to the engineroom, where she was placed on a form in front of the boiler ..re. A minute or two later Mr. Larritt was assisted into the welcome warmth of the stokehold,where he quickly recovered, a dry shirt being lent him by a member of the stokehold crew. The Peregrine continued her journey, disembarking and taking up passengers at Stanley Bay, and going on to Devonport. As the steamer drew near the wharf Captain Poole sounded the alarm signal of repeated whistles on the siren, and Dr. Bade and Police-Sergeant O'Brien were on the scene almost as soon as the steamer reached the berth. Dr. Eade ran below-stairs on board the ship and a quick feel of the pulse assured him that the woman was in no danger of collapse. "Why didn't they leave me?" she said to the man who had helped her down the engine room stair. Sergeant O'Brien took charge, and the woman was taken back to the Auckland Mental Hospital. She had recently been released from that institution on probationary license. • Mr. Larritt, who formerly lived at Mannum, South Australia, said to-day that Tic had previously rescued a man and three boys from drowning in the Murray River. '.;:■ . . -..,-. ~