COURAGEOUS RESCUE FROM ICY RIVER

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10886, 12 August 1932, Page 3

COURAGEOUS RESCUE FROM ICY RIVER

Carpenter Saves FellowWorker. A POWERFUL SWIMMER. Oamaru, Aug. 11 A courageous action is reported from the Waitaki hydro-electric works. Mr James Leonard Johnston plunged into the Waitaki River to fhe assistance of a fellow-worker. Mr R. Grimwood, and brought him to safety. Both men, who are carpenters, were working in a punt on the river in the vicinity of the Wharekuri Bridge being constructed across the river at the head of the dam. Mr Grimwood was leaning over the side of the punt to release a snag which suddenly gave way and he overbalanced, falling into the river. He is a poor swimmer. Without, hesitation, Mr Johnston, fully clothed, and with a bag of nails still about his waist, plunged into the rushing waters to his companion’s assistance. The temperature of the ice-fed river was 3 5 degrees. The rescuer caught Mr Grimwood !B) or 100 yards downstream and assisted him to safety. It was a courageous action, which only a very powerful swimmer could have achieved. Mr Packwood, engineer in charge, has reported the matter to the Minister of Public Works. Mr Frith, the local representative, has forwarded particulars to the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand.