Rescuer saw no need to stay

Press, 26 October 1984, Page 1

Rescuer saw no need to stay

A Christchurch woman’s “mystery rescuer” who held her head above water after her car rolled into a pond on Wednesday morning said yesterday that he was surprised by the fuss made over his action. “I didn’t think there was any need to stay around, as there was only one car involved and witnesses would not be needed,” said the New Brighton man, Mr Jelle Pijpker. Mr Pijpker, a fitter and turner at G. L. Bowron and Company, Ltd, was on his way to work along Dyers Road when the accident occurred.

“I was following a small truck when all of a sudden there was this car flying over the grass and it landed on its roof in the pond,” he said. “I jumped off my motorbike and ran over to the car.” Mr Pjjpker and another motorist looked into the car, which was in about 30cm of water, and saw Jennifer Hodgkinson’s face. “I asked her if she was the only person there and she said, ‘Yes’.” “She was more pr less trapped under the front seat and was trying to crawl round inside the car.” The two jpen tried to keep her head up above the water, but found the window was not open enough. They broke it with an old pipe and waited, calming her, until an ambulance arrived. “She was afraid she would drown and was quite panicky,” said Mr Pijpker. After the ambulance arrived, the two men left the scene. “We discussed it and did not think anyone would want our names, so we left.” Mr Pijpker was half an hour late for work, which worried him because he had worked there only a week. When he arrived, curious workmates wanted to know why he was so wet. After reading about the “mystery rescuer” yesterday one of them then got in touch with “The Press.” Miss Hodgkinson said yesterday that she had recovered from her ordeal, although she was “still a bit sore.” She was happy to hear who her rescuer was, and planned to get in touch with him.