DINGHY CAPSIZES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 14, 17 July 1939, Page 11

DINGHY CAPSIZES

MAORI'S CLOSE CALL

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

NEW PLYMOUTH. July 16,

When a dinghy capsized some distance off the coast near Waitara this morning, the occupant, Mr. Tom Heath, a Maori, had a narrow escape from drowning. Only the timely arrival of a fishing launch saved his life.

\ Mr. Heath had set off about 6.30 a.m. for a day's fishing. Later in the morning advice was received by Captain Wood, the Waitara Harbour Board's pilot, that a dinghy had been seen capsized and that a man was clinging to it. Captain.Wood communicated with Captain Lang, a x*etired master mariner, who owns a fishing launch, and no time was lost in getting under way with Constable Lemm and two other men, whose assistance he had obtained.

Because of the proximity of the capsized dinghy to a reef and broken water, the rescue was difficult, but after careful navigation Captain Lang reached the dinghy, which was then about 300 yards off the shore. Mr. Heath was pulled into the launch in a semi-conscious condition. Owing to his state, no attempt was made to salvage the dinghy.