THROWN INTO RIVER

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 February 1930, Page 5

THROWN INTO RIVER

MIDNIGHT RESCUE OF GIRL. MELBOURNE, February 4. A lighterman rescued Betty Grayson, aged 17, of Kilmore, from the Yarra River at midnight on. Monday, aftei she had been in the water for nearly two hours. The girl was clinging tc the edge of the lighter Chusan, at Lower South Wharf, and her faint cries for help were heard by the lighterman. George Leeper, who was on the north side of the river. Without loss of time lie crossed the river in a dinghy, and rescued the girl a few seconds after she had Jost her hold on. the lighter. Witli the help of some wharf labourers, Leeper carried the girl on boaj’d the lighter, where she was wrapped in warm blankets and given nourishment. On the arrival of the ambulance she was taken to the Melbourne Hospital. Although suffering from shock, her condition to-day was said to be satisfactory. Miss Grayson told the police that she was knocked into the river by a taxi-cab driver, who had offered to take her home. The taxi-cab stopped at South Wharf, and a conversation followed. The driver, she said, punched her in the face, then dragged her out of the cab, and pulled her to the edge of the wharf, lie struck her again, and she overbalanced and fell in. Although dazed, she was able to reach the lighter, but was sinking when rescued. Tlite pol ice are making inquiries.