Party Saved From Rocks After Ordeal

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28697, 22 September 1958, Page 10

Party Saved From Rocks After Ordeal

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 21.

A man climbed 700 feet up a cliff at Titahi Bay on Saturday night and then walked through a valley and heavy bush to get help for three companions who were injured and marooned when their dinghy was dashed on the rocks. \'

It took the combined efforts of a police party, an ambulance driver and 1 a local farmer 12 hours to make the rescue.

At 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, four Austrians—Miss C. Radusch, Messrs F. Karger, K. Zuba and G. Possenger, all of Titahi Bay, left the bay in a small dinghy driven by an outboard motor. The motor failed at 7 p.m. when they were about to return. An oar was lost when they were rowing against the rip tide, and an oar improvised from a dinghy seat was little help. Finally a wave lifted the boat and dashed it on the rocks.

Mr Karger was pinned underneath as the boat overturned, and injured a' leg. The others were buffeted and bruised. Mr Zuba climbed the cliff and then made his way through a valley and bush to a radio station on Colonial Knob at Makara, which he reached about 9 p.m. The duty officer informed the Civil Aviation Administration’s duty controller, who advised the police. A police party left Wellington in a utility vehicle and picked up Mr Zuba. They were joined by an ambulance and police from Porirua. They drove to a coastal farm where they were joined by another utility vehicle. They drove over a rough track to the top of the cliff, and the party descended on foot. They split north and south at the foot and searched in darkness for the maroned party which, was found at 1.30 a.m.

Because of the condition- of Miss Radusch and Mr Karger, a cliff ascent was ruled out, and a constable climbed the cliff to the police vehicle to radio for . launch assistance.

Mr Dougall McKenzie, of Paremata, 'reached the party in his launch about 5 a.m. and ferriect them aboard in his dinghy.

The ambulance was driven to Paremata to pick up the'injUred Austrians.

They reached Wellington Hospital at 9.20 a.m. where it was found that Mr Karger had injured his left knee and was suffering from shock and exposure. Miss Radusch was suffering from bruises, lacerations to her feet, exposure, and shock. The other two Austrians were not injured, but were suffering from exhaustion. However, by afternoon all four were home again.