WOMAN RESCUED BY SEAPLANE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 111, 4 February 1935, Page 10

WOMAN RESCUED BY SEAPLANE

Carried Beyond Breakers SPECTACULAR SAVE NEAR AUCKLAND Washed Off Air Mattress Dominion Special Service. Auckland, February 4. The aid of a Fairey lIIF seaplane was invoked yesterday afternoon to effect the rescue of a woman who was in a dangerous position for nearly four hours beyond the reach of a life-line at Karekare beach, on the west coast. 28 miles from Auckland. The woman. Miss Hazel Bentham, aged 30. of Mount ’Eden, Auckland, showed remarkable fortitude in the way she kept afloat, although when she was rescued she was in a semiconscious condition. Miss Bentham entered the water shortly after 2 o’clock, taking an air mattress. About a quarter of an hour later a big wave washed her off the mattress. Her efforts to regain it were unavailing, and in the strong undertow she was rapidly carried beyond the line of breakers into the heavy swell. After fruitless attempts to rescue her with a life-line had been made advice was sent to the Hobsonville Air Base, which dispatched a seaplane. It dropped to within 500 feet of the water and Miss Bentlmm was seen about 300 yards from the shore. Pilot S. Wallingford brought the machine down about half a mile from the beach and then taxied to the woman.

She was brought on to the float, where artificial respiration was applied. The machine flew back to Hobsonville with the woman, who recovered consciousness and was taken to hospital.