CUTTER SWAMPED

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33676, 28 October 1974, Page 1

CUTTER SWAMPED

A cutter carrying six sea scouts was swamped off Waiheke Island early yesterday morning and one of tihe scouts died after being taken from the water eight hours and a half later, the Press Association reports from Auckland.

In the photograph Mr and Mrs O. A. C. Duncan on their 30ft yacht Wairiki watch their son, Peter, as he bales out the illfated cutter which they had recovered with its crew. The 17ft cutter was struck by a freak wave at 1 a.m., somewhere between Waiheke and Ponui Islands and Omana Beach, near Maraetai.

By chance the scouts were picked up by a launch which was in the area at 9.30 a.m. All the scouts

had been wearing lifejackets. One of the boys died while an ambulance officer from Auckland, Mr B. W. Moffitt, gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and cardiac massage.

Mr Moffitt had been flown to Orapiu Bay, where the boys were landed, by a Mount Cook Widgeon aircraft.

The dead boy was PETER OWEN HIRD, aged 17, of 38 Manuroa Road, Takanini.

All survivors were admitted to Auckland Hospital but by last night four had been discharged. Three of the boys known to be released were Michael Bradley, aged 18, Gregory Isgrove, aged 16|, and

Peter Bixley, all of Papakura. Also in the rescued party were Malcolm Powell, aged 20, who was the group leader, and Gary Jones.

All the scouts were venturers belonging to the Papakura Sea Scout Group. Michael Bradley said that after the freak wave hit the craft, swamping it, the scouts hung on to the sides of the almost completely submerged craft. Every 10 minutes one boy took a turn inside the boat. “We all suffered from cramp at some time during the night,” said Michael. “If any boy was suffering particularly badly he would be put inside and someone would rub his arms and legs.”