Bronze Medal For Rescue Attempt

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31322, 18 March 1967, Page 14

Bronze Medal For Rescue Attempt

Mr B. G. J. Shields, who made an unsuccessful bid to save a five-year-old girl who fell through thin ice on Lake Lyndon, near Porter’s Pass, on July 31 last year, was awarded a bronze medal by the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand yesterday. Mr Shields, a fireman, lives in Christchurch.

The girl, who was drowned, was Cindy Carol Brown. The citation, approved by the society’s court of directors, said that the girl wandered away on her own on to thin ice, which gave way.

“When advised of the accident, Mr Shields ran to the scene, and in his underwear crawled across the ice with a rope. He reached the hole, entered the water and swam to the body of the child “With some difficulty, because the ice kept breaking away and his rope had caught on sharp ice and snapped, he lifted the girl out and pulled himself backwards out of the water. He then pushed the girl forward on to safe ice. “After being in the water for about seven minutes, the citation added, “Shields was nearly paralysed with cold, and suffered several cuts and ice burns. The child had died before he could reach her.”

Bronze medals were also awarded to Messrs D. R. Crossan, of Balclutha, and S. J. Johnston, of Tapanui, for trying to rescue the pilot of a topdressing plane which crashed and burst into flames when landing on a strip at Millers Flat, Central Otago, on July 22, 1965. “In spite of the danger of severe burns, and the possibility of an explosion, the two men ran to the aircraft without hesitation and endeavoured to extract the pilot, who was trapped in the cockpit and badly injured,” read the citation. “They succeeded in getting the pilot dear of the aircraft, but he died in hospital from his injuries.” Harbour Rescue A letter of commendation will be sent to Mr B. N. Lucas who dived into Auckland Harbour to rescue a motorman who fell from a Swedish ship on October 3, 1966. “The man was heavily built, but Mr Lucas supported him in cold water for about 15 minutes until they were both picked up by a police launch,” the dtation read.

Mr C. Des Forges, of Otorohanga, who helped to shore two youths swept out to sea by a rip at Whiritoa beach on October 24, 1966, will be sent a letter of thanks. He was assisted by Mr R. Foreman, of Hamilton. It was also decided to send a letter of thanks to the Whangamata Surf Life-saving Club, members of which travelled 11 miles to help in the rescue.