BATHERS IN DIFFICULTIES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16163, 18 March 1918, Page 6

BATHERS IN DIFFICULTIES.

TROUBLE AT TAYLOR'S MISTAKE

BUSY TIME FOR LIFE-SAVERS

The large number of people who visited Taylor's Mistake yesterday to witness the life-saving competition for the Kestcven Cup were treated to something far more serious and realistic than an ordinary lifo-saving demonstration. Tliero was a fairly heavy sea running, with large breakers, which maintained a powerful baekwasli, and a strong current off shore. The conditions were such that even powerful swimmers and life-savers were amongst those in trouble. Fortunately there wore a large number of lifesavers on the beach, teams being present from the North Beach, Sumner, New Brighton, and Taylor's Mistake. Life-saving clubs, and tlio members oi those teams (especially New were responsible for preventing what would otherwise liave been a most disastrous afternoon. It was dead low water soon after midday, and during the morning several bathers were nearly caught, but it was not until the tido had turned that trouble commenced.

Shortly after one o'clock two men bathing at the northern end of the beach wero seen to be in difficulties, and making signals for help. These wore noticed on shore, and - the members of the New Brighton lifo-saving team, who happened to be in tlio vicinity, were quickly on the spot. F. D. Stokes took tho bolt, and was soon on tho way to the unfortunate men, who wore seen to be drifting very quickly. The beltman reached them just as they were drifting on to a shoal, and they were assisted ashore not much the worse for their adventure. A bout an hour afterwards three boys were bathing near the same 620t, when one of them was struck by two or three breakers in quick succession, and, swallowing a fair amount of water, was soon in troublo, the current carrying him rapidly out. One of the other boys noticing Jii s plight went and supported him while the othor boy went towards shore, with tho object of getting tho belt, but was anticipated by Hurst, of the Taylor's Mistake Club, who wont out with tho belt, and brought the two boys in. The" lino was again manned by the New Brighton team. While this rescue Was being effectri} i nv ' p ' the Taylor's Mistake Club, noticed two men in difficulties, and went out and assisted them to safety, but becoming exhausted himself, was soon in trouble, and was quickly earned out. A. R. Blank, of the North New Brighton team, donned the belt and went to assist, biit while in the breakers tho clipping of tho belt gave way, and he had to retlirn to the shore. Jn the meantime F. D stokes swam out, and, getting hold of JJavio, supposed him until E. Crook Went out with the belt, and brought E?n",\° vJ- ' C \ was }n a semi-con-scious condition, but warmth-nrOmot-rr ds , IVRr f, continued about half-an-hour by Messrs W. H. Benson, I; r- A- Barrett, and F. D. rihiT 8 ' 1 r , whlch hp ,mcl sufficients rerovered to be removed to a bed J ho rescues were effected in the presence of a, large number of onlookers trho warmly applauded tho rescuers