IN NICK OF TIME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 3

IN NICK OF TIME.

DROWNING AVERTED. SUCKED THROUGH CULVERT. TAXIMAN RESCUES GIRL <By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANG-AREI, this day. A sensational rescue from drowning was effected near Mackesey'e place on the Onerahi Road on Wednesday. The rescuer is Mr. A.' F. Baker, a taxi driver, and the rescued a girl, whose name is not known. Mr. Baker was returning to Whangarei from Onerahi, and, when crossing the culvert at Mackesey's, saw a girl in the water. She at once disappeared, and at first Mr. Baker thought she was playing in the water. She did not appear for some time, and when she did she began to sink again. It was then that Mr. Baker realised that the girl was in difficulties, and although he cannot swim a stroke, he plung&d in fully clothed to the rescue. At the time the tide was almost high and was still coming in. A peculiarity of the spot is that the water rushes through the culvert and forms a whirlpool at the mouth of the big pipe, which is about 20ft long. Both Mr. Baker and the girl found themselves being washed towards the culvert, which was about 2ft under water. Before they could get ashore they were caught in the whirlpool, dragged under, and swept through the culvert. It was a terrifying experience, and had there been any obstruction in the culvert both Mr. Baker and the girl must have been drowned. They were swept through the culvert at a great pace, and shot out into the backwater, where it is calm. The girl by this time was almost exhausted, and ■Mr. Baker's strength was failing. Mr. Baker, however, managed to scramble ashore, dragging the girl with him. •"ortunately he knew how to apply artificial respiration, and aflter a short ime the girl recovered. Both Mr. Baker and the girl received ecratches and bruises during their passage through the culvert, and their clothes were badly torn.