DROWNING RESCUE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 272, 12 August 1932, Page 12

DROWNING RESCUE

Carpenter’s Brave Action WAITAKI RIVER INCIDENT Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, August 11. A courageous act and one that merits recognition is reported to have been performed at the Waitaki hydro-elec-tric works on Saturday last, when Mr. James L. Johnston, a carpenter, plunged into the Waitaki River to the assistance pf a fellow worker, Mr. R. Grlmwood, and helped him to safety. Both men were working in a punt on the river, near a point where a bridge is being built at the head of the dam. Grlmwood was leaning over the side of the punt releasing a snag, and when the snag suddenly gave way he was precipitated into the river. He is'a poor swimmer, and without a moment’s hesitation Johnston fully-cloth-ed plunged into the rushing waters to his companion’s assistance, at the same time calling out words of encouragement and telling Grimwood to keep his head up. The temperature of the water in the snow-fed river was 35 degrees, but the rescuer caught Grlmwood 90 or 100 yards downstream and assisted him to safety. It was a most courageous act and one which only a powerful swimmer could have accomplished.

Bystanders said that but for Johnston’s promptitude Grimwood would certainly have been drowned. Particulars of the occurrence have been forwarded to the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand.