RESCUE FROM RIVER.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20898, 4 July 1933, Page 8

RESCUE FROM RIVER.

YOUNG MAN WASHED UP ON SUING MO SPIT. NARROW KSCAPf-; FROM DEATH. o»rnriAt to I'iir. rur.fit.) OAMARU, July 3. A story of quiet heroism and endurance was furnished on Sunday night at the Waitaki river, opposite Ferry road, through the rescue of a young man, Mr M. J. Hilton, who had been washed up on a small shingle spit dividing the main river. Mr Hilton, who could not swim, had escaped drowning in the icy water of the Waitaki, and had endured with fortitude the bitter cold of the night without food or warmth for about eight hours, before he was pulled a rope across the rushing torrent to dry land. With the odds against them, after meeting many failures, the rescuers battled away gamely in the bitterly cold water and biting wind until they met with success, saving Mr Hilton from what appeared to be almost certain death from cold and exposure. Washed from Horse. Ml' Hilton, who had been rabbiting on islands in the Waitaki, was returning home on horseback at 4.45 p.m., When his horse went into a deep pool. His companion, Mr Alan McDonald, stuck to the horse and reached the bank safely, but Mr Hilton was swept down by a swift current, disappearing for about 300 yards, until he was finally washed on the narrow shingle spit, and was just able to crawl to safety. Policemen and settlers organised a rescue party, and Mr J. Hyland and Mr W. Devlin rode on horses over the intervening branches of the river to the main stream, where 40 yards of swiftly-flowing water separated them from Mr Hilton. Several gallant attempts were made to cross on horseback, but the strength of the current swept t hv. horses downstream. The party threw matches over to Mr Hilton. who secured little warmth from a small fire of driftwood which he built. Attempts at Rescue. The rescuers made repeated attempts to throw a lifeline to him. Finally the party was reinforced, and using a stirrup iron as a weight, Messrs J. Hyland, W. Devlin, S. C. Ridley, and R. Hayncs succeeded in throwing a line over, followed by an inch rope with a running noose, which Mr Hilton adjusted under his arms. He was hauled through the water to safety at 12.45 a.m., and restorative measures were applied successfully. It is considered that Mr Hilton in such an exposed position would not have survived until daylight.