THREE RESCUES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18926, 15 February 1927, Page 8

THREE RESCUES.

SUNDAY BATHERS SAVED. DANGEROUS SEA AT NORTH BEACH.

The surf at North Beach was particularly heavy on Sunday and the combination of huge waves and a treacherous channel to the north of the Surf Club's pavilion resulted in three bathers getting into serious difficulties. They were a lad named Jack Collins, a mar. named J. Thomas, of Rook wood avenue, and another man. , A little after 0 a.m. Collins was seen to be struggling against a strong current which was steadily bearing him out to sea. The alarm was sounded from the Pavilion. Collins, keeping his presence of mind and floating in tho meantime, and a team consisting of Messrs A. Dalton, W. Brough, R. Dawson, F. Alabaster, L. Hill, and J. Scott ran out a reel. Collins was secured after a strenuous fight and was drawn to the shore fatigued but littla the worse for his experience. His mother, who saw the rescue, collapsed, and had to be assisted home. About two hours later another alarm was raised, Thomas having got out of his depth and become trapped in the channel. It was quickly realised that he was seriously in need of assistance, and the Surf Club's team again operated, L. Hill going out in the belt. He secured Thomas and landed him with little trouble. During the early part of the morning a third rescue was performed, a man getting out of his depth. A warning was spread among the bathers of the danger of the channel by members of the Surf Club who had tested the currents. Not a great deal of notice was taken of the danger signals by the general publio, more bathing °«ts>*d6 the safety area than within it. The huge crowds which gathered to watch the rescues expressed great admiration of the Surf Club team's work, and they*were warmly commended for their prompt actions.