Awards for bravery

Press, 16 October 1976, Page 6

Awards for bravery

A linesman who pulled the unconscious body of his workmate from electrified lines, and revived him with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, was one of two persons awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal yesterday.

The Ccurt of Directors of the society bestowed the medals on Mr G. Kramer, the linesman, of Wanganui, and Dr A. L. Schwartz, of Auckland, who rescued a youth from the Waikato River.

Mr Kramer, aged 42. of Wanganui, had been working with another man repairing service lines faults in the Taihape district on July 24, 1975, when the accident happened.

The workmate had been hanging from his safety belt with a hand on each of two| conductors. He was un-i conscious, and was turning! blue. Mr Kramer gave mouth-! to-mouth resuscitation, after! pulling the man’s hands from, the. conductors. Mr Kramer had then cut, his companion’s safety belt and had begun to lower himi to the ground. About 12 feet, from the ground they fell,! and Mr Kramer was knocked unconscious. When he camel round he resumed resuscitation, and finally revived his companion. Mr Kramer was under

'medical treatment for four I weeks and a half, suffering 'from multiple bruising, after I the accident. A Bronze Medal was also awarded to Dr A. L. Schwartz, of Auckland, who rescued a youth from the Waikato River on March 7, 1976. Dr Schwartz was able to rescue one of two youths who had been swept downstream towards the Aratiatia Rapids by a strong current. A posthumous award was made to Mr W. Ashby, who was drowned while rescuing his young cousin from the sea at Muriwai Beach, on March

7 this year. The U-year-old girl had been caught in a strong rip, and was being carried out to isea. Mr Ashby had kept the girl I afloat until surf club members came to her aid, but he !had then been sucked under jand had not resurfaced. Mr Warick Kearins, aged ;15. of Taihape, was awarded 'a Certificate of Merit for his I attempt to rescue a comipanion who was killed when (he fell more than 100 ft into a

i pothole at Omatane. Mr Kearins had lowered himself into the pothole, jumping the last 10 feet, after The rope his companion had been tied to had broken. He

had given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation without success. Mr E. L. Morgan, aged 29, of Auckland, was awarded a Certificate of Merit for rescuing a 12-year-old boy from the Hutt River, while it was in flood, on Maj' 11 this year. The boy had fallen into the river at a point where it was about 15 feet deep. An 18-year-old youth who rescued a fisherman who had been swept out to sea at Kare Kare Beach, Auckland, on March 3 this year, was awarded a Certificate of Merit. Mr R. P. Baillie, of Auckland, rescued the man from a

treacherous area of water in eight-foot waves. Two 19-year-old youths who rescued an elderly man from the harbour at Devonport. Auckland, were awarded Certificates of Merit. Mr G. A Rossen and Mr D. G. Beaumont, of Auckland, had jumped into the water and rescued a man who had attempted to jump on to the ferry at Devonport Wharf, land had fallen into the harbour.

I Both youths had been in considerable danger from the ferry propellers, and in danger of being crushed against the wharf.