Mother grateful for pool rescue

Press, 29 November 1976, Page 6

Mother grateful for pool rescue

A grateful Christchurch mother was searching last evening for the 10-year-old girl who saved her young daughter from drowning yesterday. Mrs Maxine Bate, of Orlon Street, Shirley, wants to thank the girl who rescued her daughter from a swimming pool at Villa Maria College in Riccarton. Sarah Jane Bate, aged six who had gone to the college with neighbours, fell into the pool while trying to retrieve a ball.

“All the adults had gone off to a barbecue,” said Mrs Bate. “Sarah Jane can’t swim, and all she

could do was struggle to stay afloat.” The 10-year-old, who had been playing on a trampoline nearby, ran to the pool, dived In, and pulled the unconscious girl to safety. She then revived Sarah Jane, using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Sarah Jane was admitted to Christchurch Hospital for observation. She was recovering last evening. “She was very lucky,” Mrs Bate said. “The girl did a marvellous job and we are really grateful.

“A lot of adults would not have known what to do in the same situation.”