Youths rescued after hours in rough seas

Press, 6 December 1979, Page 2

Youths rescued after hours in rough seas

PA Hamilton l Three Hamilton youths who were swept several i kilometres out to sea in huge waves off Raglan on Tuesday said yesterday that they were lucky to be alive. The trio were in the water for more than three hours. They’ had gone surfing at Manu Bay near Raglan soon after 3 p.m. They lasted only minutes in the 3m waves before being dragged out towards the bar at the entrance to Harbour.

Lance Gulliver and Andrew Cartwright, both aged 17, lost their boards and were pushed out to sea. lan Crossman, aged 15, clung to his small kneeboard and was eventually rescued by two experienced surfers. The youths were in the water an hour before the Raglan Sea Rescue Group was alerted, and the summer’s first big rescue started.

A trawler attempted to cross the Raglan bar to go to the surfers’ assistance but had to turn back because of the huge, dumping surf. A top-dressing plane located the two youths who

had been swept several kilometres out to sea. Constable J. Gower, of Raglan, said yesterday the pair were found on the seaward side of the bar. “They never would have been sighted from the shore, and it is doubtful that a boat would have found them,” he said. When the youths were located attempts were made to launch Raglan’s surf rescue boat at Manu Bay. But the boat’s steering was damaged during the launching, and it was decided not to risk the craft. Other boats were used and the two youths were pulled from the sea after 6 p.m. They were taken by ambulance to Waikato Hospital where they were treated for exposure.

Yesterday Constable Gower said the youths were alive only because they kept their heads and a plane was on hand to locate them. “They are extremely lucky,” he said. “It is so easy to panic.” Lance Gulliver and lan Crossman were wearing wet suits, but Andrew Cartwright was in the sea for three hours clad only in a T-shirt and shorts.