PLUCKY ACTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21353, 14 March 1944, Page 2

PLUCKY ACTION

GIRL SAVES BOY THROWN INTO STREAM A recommendation for recognition of the plucky action of Patricia McFarlane, aged 18, of Patutahi, in saving a nine-year-old boy,, Michael Dods, son of Mr and Mrs H. H. Dods, Repongaere, is to be made to the Royal Life-Saving Society by the Gisborne sub-branch. The incident took place on Sunday, March 5, when Patricia McFnrlane and Michael Dods were riding down to the Lavenham Stream to see what it looked like after the heavy rain the previous day. The banks of the stream were in a very silty and slippery condition and on turning round to leave the stream the boy’s pony lost its feet and slid down into the creek, which was in a semi-ilooded condition. The child was throw,n over the pony’s tail into the water and was being swept downstream when Patricia McFarlane swiftly dismounted and pluckily went to his rescue. They were both carried downstream some considerable distance, but the girl managed to retain her hold on the child and eventually caught hold of something on the bank and dragged Michael to safety. Both children were out of their depth and as the boy could not swim and the banks of the stream were very slippery, they were in grave danger of being swept out into the middle of the stream by the strong current,