Father and son thought drowned

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34120, 5 April 1976, Page 18

Father and son thought drowned

CN.Z Press Association) AUCKLAND. April 4. A man missing, presumed drowned, at [Karekare might have lost his life trying to save his son, aged six, police believe. Both were swept away by the sea yesterdav. The missing man is Tapuina Pu, aged 138. a freezing worker, of Firth Crescent, Otara. The Henderson police said that Mr Pu was fishing off rocks when his son. Vale Tapuina Pu, fell into the water. He jumped in to rescue the boy. but was swept awav. Seeing what happened, an elder son, Teana Tapuina Pu, aged 16, plunged into the sea to help his father and brother. He, too. got into difficulties but was rescued by a surf club member.

Police searched the coast: yesterday, and again today, but failed to find either Mr Pu, or his young son. Another search will be made tomorrow. The man who dived into! boiling surf to rescue Teapa Pu will be nominated for the national “Life-saver of the Year” award. An official of the Karekare Surf Life-' Saving Club said that Ray Baillie, aged 18, had shown remarkable courage and skill in making the rescue. Mr Baillie had been alone at the time, and off duty, but he had dived 20ft off rocks on the north side of the point] into an area locally called: "the Cauldron ”.