RESCUED BY JET BOAT

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29715, 8 January 1962, Page 10

RESCUED BY JET BOAT

Man Marooned In River

A fisherman marooned on a small island by the swollen waters of the Waimakariri river, near Kainga, during a flash flood on Saturday afternoon was rescued by a jet-boat after one hour and a half during which the river rose rapidly. He is Mr P. A. Wilson, aged 31, married, with one child, of Hills road,. Christchurch. When Mr Wilson went to the river he was able to walk across to the middle quite easily because the river bed was dry. With heavy rain in the Alps, the river rose four feet in an hour and kept rising.

Mr Wilson attempted to wade back across the channel, but found the water was up to his neck. Mr I. R. Holland, of River road, Kainga, noticed Mr Wilson's plight and shouted to him not to attempt the crossing, as it was far too dangerous. Mr Wilson returned to a small tussock island about 200 yards out in the river, while Mr Holland notified the Belfast police. As the river was running too swiftly for local craft, Constable J. Thompson got in touch with the Hydrological Survey branch of the Ministry of Works, but its jet boat was not readily available. Mr J. R. Perkins, of Belfast, notified Mr R. E. Anniss, of Riccarton, a jet boat owner. Mr Perkins was told that the boat would arrive at 4 p.m, The peak of the flood was expected at 4.30 p.m.

When Mr Anniss arrived. Mr Wilson was standing on the highest part of the island, but thigh-deep in the water. Mr Wilson, who was considerably shaken, said that just before the boat arrived he decided he would try to swim for the bank. After the rescue, Constable Thompson said the river could be exceedingly dangerous in nor'-west weather, and fishermen and campers should take extreme care at this time of the year. Flood warnings by the North Canterbury Catchment Board should not be ignored. Campers were warned by the Catchment Board on Saturday morning not to remain on river beds or low grounds beside rivers.