RESCUE AT NEW BRIGHTON

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28159, 24 December 1956, Page 12

RESCUE AT NEW BRIGHTON

LEAKING SURF SKI USED DAMAGE CAUSED BY VANDALS Because of vandalism at New Brighton, two persons’ lives were endangered at the vesterday Last month a surf ski belonging to the New Brighton Surf Life Saving Club was damaged by boys and when this was used in a rescue yesterday afternoon it bogan to sink.

. Brian Robertson. New Zealand junior beltman and surf race champion paddled out the surf ski to act as a marker for a club race. When the competitors had raced round the marker Robertson prepared to return to the beach. He saw a young woman iust beyond the buoy waving for help She had been caught by the outgoing tide and was unable to make anv headway against the current. Robertson promptlv went to her assistance and hoisted her aboard the ski. It was then that trouble developed. The previous month young vandals smashed holes in the deck of the ski. It carried Robertson out easily, but the added weight of the voung women took the deck below th** surface, and it began to sink. Robertson slipped off the ski and pushed it against the current and surf for the best part of 150 yards to safety. The young woman suffered a little shock but did not require resuscitation treatment and was able to go home.

Since the New Brighton club’s pavilion was partly destroyed by fire nearly three vears ago. the club has had to store its equipment—including eight surf skis—in one room of the ground floor. This room canot be locked.

The two boys responsible for the damage entered this room last month and removed two skis. They took them about 400 yards from shore and when a hole was smashed in one of them—the one used by Robertson yesterday—they returned to shore on the second and left the other where it was damaged. The same boys seriouslv damaged another ski when they stripped the plywood off one frame. The ski left in the sea was recovered by the club after the boys had been seen returning to shore.