LIFEBOAT OUT AT SUMNER

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28413, 21 October 1957, Page 10

LIFEBOAT OUT AT SUMNER

Launch Towed To Safety Two men whose launch was being swept to sea in a 14-knot current at Sumner late yesterday afternoon were rescued by the crew of the Sumner lifeboat. The men are Mr Ivan Illing and Mr Brian Troon. They bad been fishing a mile and a half out in Pegasus Bay. When they were returning, the engine of their launch failed, and the launch was swep* towards the open sea.

The rescue was watched by persons in about 400 cars. More than two hours earlier an observer on a cliff top qear Sumner had thought the men were in difficulties, and gave an alarm.

Within five minutes the lifeboat had put to sea. It reached the launch, but the two men aboard said they were not in any difficulties. and the lifeboat returned to shore. However, the in eboat crew realised the potential danger oi‘ the swift outgoing tide, and remained on the alert.

When the launch’s engine tailed about 5.20 p.m. the lifeboat, whicn had anchored near the Christchurch Yacht Club pavilion, mad? a dash through the heavy surl on the bar, and seemed a line to the launch. It had difficulty in finding a good channel in. and grounded several times. “Was Really Rough’’ Mr Ill:ng said that the water appeared to be cairn where he and his companion decided to fish. A /quail developed without warning. and someone thought the launch was in distress and sent the lifeboat out. “I wish now we had taken a tow then.’’ he said. He had intended to head for land much earlier, but feared that the launch would get washed out into heavier seas «f he weighed anchor. “It was really rough, and 1 dared not weigh anchor and head in. I waited for it to calm a little.’’ he said. When the engine iailed he threw out his four-pronged anchor, but it would not hold the boat. “We got a little worried then,” he said. “It was a real lorren-., and the launch was rising on to the crest of some oig waves like a cork. We were nelpless for a time and then we were getting swept along towards the outlet. The anchor held a tittle, but we knew we would make no headway and we would be in real trouble once it .carted to get dark. Then the lifeboat came out and took us in tow . . . and we didn’t get any fish,’’ he said.