DINGHY CAPSIZE

Evening Star, Issue 22639, 4 May 1937, Page 8

DINGHY CAPSIZE

ATTEMPTED LANDING ON PDNUI SEAMAN'S PLUCK AND RESOURCE SAVES THREE LIVES [Pei? United Pkess Association.} . AUCKLAND, May 4. When the dinghy in which two passengers were being landed on Ponui Island capsized early this morning, a seaman, J. Robertson, whose home is at Northcote,,dived overboard and assisted two passengers and a young man who had been rowing them to' reach a ladder that was dropped down the side of the steamer. The passengers, Mr and Mrs R. Freeland, of Mount Eden, were intending to spend a holiday on the island. They left Auckland on the Hauiti yesterday morning, but it was too rough to land on Ponui Island, so they went on to Thames, the steamer calling at the island on her return. Just before 3 o’clock this morning, a dinghy, manned by a youth, put out in a nasty sea, with the ebb tide cans iug a bad rip. Hardly had it left the ship’s side before it capsized, throwing the three occupants into the bitterly, cold sea. It was pitch dark, and the trio were being swept out of sight when Robertson, who was at the wheel of the steamer, dived fully clad to the rescue. Ropes were thrown from the steamer, and Robertson assisted the' drenched trio up the ladder. The four shivering people were warmed at the galley fire, and supplied with dry clothes. The ship’s boat landed the youth on the island, and the Freelands returned to Auckland. They lost their personal belongings. A search for the dinghy proved fruitless.