SEAPLANE SWOOPS TO SAVE

Evening Star, Issue 21945, 4 February 1935, Page 8

SEAPLANE SWOOPS TO SAVE

WOMAN RESCUED FROM SURF DARING FEAT OF AIR FORCE (Ter United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February 4. A rescue without precedent in New Zealand was witnessed at Karekare, one of the popular West Coast beaches, yesterday afternoon, when Hazel Bentham, aged thirty, who had been swept beyond the reach of the life lines, was taken from the water by a Fairey seaplane piloted by Flight-lieutenant S. Wallingford.

She was caught in the undertow about 2.15. A life line was run out, but though 300yds‘ long, it proved too short. A message was then sent to the Piha Life Saving Club, six miles away over the hill, and a team of four with another line arrived by truck. Meanwhile the woman had wisely realised that it was impossible to struggle back to the shore against the ebb tide, and used her energy to keep afloat. The second line also, though 440yds, proved too short, and the two lines were then joined, but the beltman could not make a direct approach, and with the turn of the tide he was in danger of being swept on the rocks. He therefore signalled to be brought ashore, and was pulled in exhausted. There was no boat on the beach, and as a last resource, a telephone message was sent to Hobsonville Air Base. There was only a skeleton staff on duty, but the commander, Squadron-leader L. M. Isitt, eventually got a seaplane launched with Wallingford and Leading-aircrafts-man J. Palmer. Squadron-leader Isitt himself followed in a Gipsy Moth. Wallingford brought the machine down clear of the breakers, and then taxied it in to the woman, who was floating about 300yds from the shore. Palmer climbed down on one float, and dropped a line, which the woman was able to seize. Wallingford also climbed dbwn, and helped Mist Bentham.dn to the float.

It was apparent that she was in a parlous state, and despite the danger to the plane artificial respiration was begun immediately, and continued for sonle time. The plane was then taxied out to calmer water, and the woman placed in the cabin and flown to Hobsonville, where she was treated by a doctor and removed to the hospital. She is recovering. Tribute is paid by spectators, not only to the Air Force men’s feat, hut to the persistent efforts of the Surf Club men, notably A. L. Sutton, S. Turner, and C. R. Holt. Holt, despite one attack of cramp, went out again with the line while the seaplane Was on its way to Kafekare. Squadron-leader Isitt remarked that it was fortunate the wind was off the land, and the sea smooth enough for the seaplane to land and take off.