TWO DROWNED IN MOUNTAINOUS SEAS N.S.W. STORM:

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22694, 20 July 1948, Page 5

TWO DROWNED IN MOUNTAINOUS SEAS N.S.W. STORM:

SYDNEY,

July 19.

Huge seas pounding the New South Wales coastline during the coldest Sydney week-end for 80 years caused the deaths of two people. Eight others were saved after the waves had swept them off the shore and dragged them to sea. A man aged 65, his wife, daughter and a younger man were walking along the cliff path at South Bondi when a gigantic wave engulfed them and carried all four into the sea. A young Greek dived to the rescue and managed to save both women. The other man made his own escape, but the older man was not seen again. The path is over 20ft. above, normal high-water sea-level. Boy Washed off Breakwater

A boy aged 15 w r as washed off the southern breakwater at Port Kembla. He and a friend had walke out along the breakwater, which measures over 600 ft., to watch the seas. They were on their way back when waves swept the breakwater. Rescue efforts failed when the surge of waters broke a rescuer’s grip.

Similar incidents at Cronulla, Harbord and Balmoral resulted in the rescue of two women, two youths and a nine-year-old boy. ' Large seas are still running and all smaller ships are sheltering. The Manly ferries, some of which are over 1000 tons and which cross just inside the harbour mouth, discontinued their service yesterday after seas broke over the top deck of one ferry. The service has now been resumed.

Submarine Breaks Moorings

At Manly a former Dutch submarine which was moored for exhibition purposes outside the swimming pool broke from its moorings and crashed through, steel bars of the shark-proof fence. Five piles were smashed, a large hole was driven through the outer fence of the pool and for a time the outer promenade of the pool threatened to collapse. Attempts to extricate the submarine from the wreckage have so far failed. Seas 30ft. high tore seats from their concrete bedding in Bronte Park 50 yards from normal high tide level, demolished most of the Balmoral baths causing damage estimated at £3OOO, smashed windows of the Coogee clubhouse and flooded the building, and washed away both ends of the Maroubra Beach and carried away a surfboat.