Wellington swimmer awarded Humane Society’s silver medal

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 18

Wellington swimmer awarded Humane Society’s silver medal

Mr G. J. Carlyle, of Wellington, has been awarded a silver medal by the Royal Humane Society for his action in swimming out to rescue a man off Castle Point, on December 27 last year.

Mr Carlyle, who is not a powerful swimmer, swam out 400 yards from the shore to reach the man who had himself swum out to the aid of a friend whom he thought to be in difficulties. While swimming back to shore, the man encountered rough seas and was dragged under by a large wave. He began to swallow water, and was then caught in a rip which swept him out to sea. Mr Carlyle with great difficulty managed to reach the man and drag him into the

f breakers, where two young ( women gave him assistance. . According to the citation, 1 Mr Carlyle acted promptly ! and courageously, endangerI ing his own life in the rough , seas. Having made the rescue, ' he collapsed on the shore. > On September 15, 1968, a ; group of five spear fishermen were in the sea near the entrance to Otago Harbout ( when one of the party was t attacked by a 15ft white- , pointer shark. For their work in getting the man to shore, > where he was found dead

from loss of blood, Messrs J. Kirkman, of Dunedin, and B. Skinner, of Stewart Island, Were each awarded the society’s bronze medal. Letters of commendation will be sent to Messrs A. L. Byfield and W. Webb, who on January 21, 1970, used their boats to rescue a fisherman, one of a group fishing at the mouth of the Rakaia River, who was swept into the water by a strong wave, caught in the current, and carried out to sea.

After their boats had gone through dangerous surf, the two men between them lifted the fisherman into Mr Byfield’s boat. Although mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was applied, the man was found to be dead when they reached the shore.

The citation says that both men acted promptly, without regard to their own safety, in attempting a rescue under difficult conditions in an area known to be extremely dangerous.