Medallions For Schoolboys For Rescue In Heavy Surf

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29240, 25 June 1960, Page 12

Medallions For Schoolboys For Rescue In Heavy Surf

Two Greymouth schoolboys, aged 16, who swam 400yds in heavy surf to rescue a man in difficulties were awarded bronze medallions by the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand at its quarterly meeting in Christchurch yesterday. The boys are Kevin Dixon and Lindsay Nolan. The rescue took place at Karoro beach. Greymouth, after Mr J. C Cotton became stranded on a sandbank 400yds off the shore. Mr Cotton had assisted three schoolchildren to get back to the shore through the heavy surf, but had become too exhausted to return.

The water was about sft deep over the sandbank, and a very heavy surf was breaking on the seaward side.

Dixon swam out to assist Mr Cotton while Nolan swam out with a life-saving line. Nolan attempted to take Mr Cotton on the line, but it was in poor condition and broke. He then attempted to get Mr Cotton through the breakers, but had to give up and return to the shore.

Dixon, who had returned to the shore, then re-entered the water ind succeeded in getting Mr Cotcon to the shore.

Rescue of Workmates A bronze medallion was awarded to Kenneth Douglass, aged 36, an engineer, of Wellington, for his efforts in rescuing a workmate who fell 100 ft into a creek bed when the bridge on which they were working collapsed. v Mr Douglass, who was tn charge of the erection of the steel work on the bridge. immediately climbed down to the creek bed waded into a deep pool and dived. A few seconds later he came to the surface with his workmate, Mr M. E. Parker. As the banks of the creek were vertical. Mr Douglass had to swim about 30yds in the dangerous creek before he could reach a suitable place to take Mr Parker ashore Mr Parker was unconscious and suffering from two deep cuts in the head

For rescuing a three-year-old

girl, Judith Lewis, who was in danger of drowning at the Devonport wharf, a Royal Marine bandsman. James Stewart Fagg, aged 30. was awarded a certificate of merit. Although a poor swimmer. Mr Fagg stripped off part of his uniform, and swam about 20yds in deep water to rescue the girl Albert Leslie Francis, a waterside worker, aged 22. who swam 250yds in choppy water in Wellington harbour to rescue a member of the crew of the Rangitiki. was also awarded a certificate of merit. Commendation A letter of commendation was awarded to William John Wesley, aged 67. for rescuing two young men whose dinghy had overturned in the surf at the mouth of the Ashley river. Mr Wesley rowed his own boat into the breaking surf when he saw that the men were in difficulty. He took them both aboard his boat and rowed to the shore with the dinghy li tow.