Youth Rescues Two From Van In River

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31399, 19 June 1967, Page 1

Youth Rescues Two From Van In River

Four girls and four youths had a narrow escape from drowning when a van left the road and plunged into the Styx river near Spencerville Park on Saturday night.

One of the youths rescued two of his cousins by diving into the river from the roof of tile van, an inch above the water, and pulling them out of the van.

One of the girls, who suffered a severe cut on the head, gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for 20 minutes to revive one of the other girls as she lay unconscious on the roof of the van.

The following persons were in the van: Miss Angela Chase, aged 16, and Miss Vicki Coles, aged 14, of Paparua Prison staff settlement; Miss Maree Draper, aged 19, of 69 Ruskin street; Miss Tui Watts, aged 20, of 455 Montreal street; Linsay Brown, aged 1?, of 10 Rahera street; Eric Watts, aged 19,

Robin Watts, aged 18, and Jeff Watts, aged 19, all of 455 Montreal street Mr Jeff Watts is a cousin of Miss Tui Watts and her brothers, Robin and Eric. Miss Tui Watts suffered back and head injuries and was admitted to the Christchurch Hospital. Her condition last evening was reported to be fairly satisfactory. The others were discharged after treatment at the hospital. Miss Draper had eight stitches in a cut in her head. Mr Jeff Watts said last evening that they were returning from a barbecue at Spencer Park. There was heavy fog, and the driver, Mr Rohin Watts, failed to see a

turn-off and went into the river.

“Three were sitting in the front, and the rest of us were in the back of the van. I was lying down, trying to get some sleep because I was working on Sunday. “The van went up the riverbank and out into the middle of the river. Luckily, it landed on its wheels. It was full of water, and I groped about and touched a front-door handle. I opened the door and got out. “1 climbed on to the roof of the van, which was an inch above the river, about sft deep. I leaned over the back and wrenched the double doors open. Dived Five Times

“I was just standing on the roof of the van thinking everyone wag out, when I heard Maree calling that Tui was not with her. I dived into the river and swam and pulled myself into the van. It was as dark as the inside of a black cow. “I felt Tui’s hair, grabbed it, and pulled her out by it. I managed to get her on top of the van. I dived in again and found Robin by the steering wheel. I dragged him out. “I dived in three more times looking for Linsay Brown but could not find him anywhere. Then he called out He and Maree had got to the opposite bank. “I found Tui was lying unconscious on top of the van and she seemed to have stopped breathing. I called out to Maree, and she called back for me to give Tui mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but I called that I couldn't. Miss Draper said she waded and swam over to the van, and Jeff Watts pulled her up on top of it “1 gave Tui mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for 20 minutes before she stirred. My word, it seemed ages. Then a man rowed out in a boat and rescued us all off the roof of the van.” Floating Mr Brown said that he really thought he had had it. “I was just floating inside the van, when Maree grabbed my hair and jersey and hauled me out and up—you want to see my jersey; she really grabbed me.” The Watts and Mr Brown said that they were taken to a house nearby and given coffee and blankets and “treated marvellously” by a woman there until an ambulance arrived. “We would like to thank her very, very much, and also the man who came out in the boat,” Mr Jeff Watts said. Mr Watts, who is a builder’s labourer, worked all day yesterday. He said that the accident happened at 10.55 p.m. on Saturday. All their watches had stopped at that time. The photograph shows Mr Jeff Watts and Miss Maree Draper.