Woman Dies Trying To Rescue Minister

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 8

Woman Dies Trying To Rescue Minister

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Jan. 2. A woman was drowned when she went to the assistance of the Minister of Housing (Mr John Rae) in heavy surf at Taits Beach, eight miles north of Napier, today. She was: Mrs Lillian Gilchrist, aged about 50, wife of Mr G. W. Gilchrist, a divisional engineer with the Post and Telegraph Department at Napier. Mrs Gilchrist is Mr Rae’s sis-ter-in-law. Clad in shorts and blouse, she rushed into the surf to help when Mr Rae and his son, Malcolm Rae, aged 23, got into difficulties. She was swept off her feet and carried out to sea. Mr Rae and his son managed to struggle ashore. A member of the Waimarama Life-saving Club, Barry John Milne, went to Mrs Gilchrist’s assistance, and after a terrific battle lasting 20 minutes managed to get her into shallow water where he collapsed Upon recovering, Mr Milne applied artificial respiration for an hour until an ambulance arrived. Mr Rae was severely shocked and is receiving medical attention. The police praised Mr Milne's rescue attempt and said he very nearly lost his own life. Found Drowned The body of a boy who had been missing since Sunday afternoon was found in the Waite-

whenua stream, Ohura, yesterday He was: Beechy John William Timoko. aged 12, adopted son of Mr and Mrs W. Sampson, of Ohura. With other boys he went swimming in a large, deep pool in the stream. It was not noticed he was missing until the other boys were ready to go home. Rescued Unconscious A 16-year-old boy, Brian Houlihan, of Mt. Roskill, was rescued unconscious by Mr Kevin O’ConE er . “member of the Hed Beach Surf Club, yesterday. --P 1 ® boy was paddling a canoe 250 yards offshore when it overturned and he was hit on the head with a paddle.