IN GRIP OF OCTOPUS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 8

IN GRIP OF OCTOPUS

CTRL BATHER’S DANGER RESCUED BY BROTHER- AFT® STRUGGLE (Special to the Times.) AUCKLAND, Dee. 3 A tragedy was narrowly avesd at Stanley Day yesterday f after inapt when a fourteen-year-old girl K#nleen Cosgrove, was attacked by fan octopus and dragged under the f-°-t----er in the grip of its tentacles. I The girl’s brother, Mr Eat l-es-grove, dashed to her assistance, iust as he reached the spot the 'octopus dragged the girl under the wr.ter. at the same time issuing that nky black fluid which octopi omlt-to embarrass and blind their victims. Simultaneously, another and larger tentacle came out of the wrter, and curled about Air Cosgrove’s leg above the knee. The young nan grasped the deadly arm and toie i.fc from his leg, and pulled. vigorously at his sister in an endeavour toffee iier from tlie menacing tentacle;. In the comparatively shallow water in which the struggle took office the octopus was eventually driven off. Mr Cosgravo was too concerned about the rosette of his sister ts attempt to capture it till it waj too late.

When they emerged from the water, both Mr Cosgrove and his sister were swollen and bleeding clout the legs, the marks on .the wrl looking particularly nhgiw. .Some remedies and disinfectants wert applied and hut for the -shock anc the .memory of it, neither of the -yjung people have suffered greatly by 'heir unenviable j ; Air Cosgrove says it- was dltculk to estimate the size of the octipfiSj, but he gauged the tentacle ThioSg curled about his leg to be fromiwo’ feet to three feet in length. Hewas up to his Waist in the water,' and; the feeler came out of tho titer about IS inches Before encirimg his leg. This is the first occasion upon vnich those on the waterfront have bsrd of an octopus attacking anyon ' r f Auckland harbor, although ‘ o-ropj are known to frequent these a nc * other New Zealand waters.