RESCUES FROM DROWNING

Evening Star, Issue 24919, 17 July 1943, Page 4

RESCUES FROM DROWNING

HUMANE SOCIETY AWARDS BOY'S BRAVERY (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 16. The award of the Royal Humane Society's certificate to a boy of 14 year* for rescuing another lad in difficulty iu rough sea at Pohara Beach, Takaka, Nelson, was made at a meeting of the society held at Dominion headquarters to-day • , Entering a very rough sea on Janu-, ary 10, when the tide was rapidly running out, Brian. Vernon Robertson waded out to the assistance of lan William Foskett, aged 10. Foskett was dashed against some rooks two chains from the shore by the wayes, which were breaking over his rescuer's head. He clung to (Robertson's neck, endangering both of them. Robertson supported the younger lad until their plight' was noticed by a man oil the beach, who went to their assistance and. brought Foskett in on his back. " But for Robertson's assistance," .says the report of the Awards Committee of the society, "Foskett would in all probability have been drowned." It was also decided at the meeting to send letters of commendation to Misa Barbara Brookfield, of Takapuna, Auckland, and to Mrs G. Taylor, of Bluff. Miss Brookfield, sports mistress at St. • Ann's Preparatory School for Girls, . Takapuna, supported a pupil who was caught in a strong undercurrent while . swimming ioff the Takapuna Beach on March 8. The girl, Janet Holmes, struggled with Miss Brookfield and clutched her round the neck, making it difficult for her to swim, and it was 20 minutes before she could get the child into a boat which had come to their assistance. ; "A plucky action." was the comment of one of the members of the society on Mrs Taylor's rescue of a boy, Kenneth Barron, on January 23 off the beach at Bluff. Mrs Taylor, hcrselt ', unable to swim, waded out to tho lad, who was in difficulties near a dangerous deep channel ,and dragged him on to the beach. While artificial respiration, was being applied to the rescued boy, she herself fainted from shock. ,