COOK STRAIT SWIM.

Grey River Argus, 11 February 1929, Page 5

COOK STRAIT SWIM.

Webster’s Failure. 1 TO CROSS WELLINGTON HARBOUR. February 10.. I The coldness of the water, despite absolutely perfect weather conditions, and' the fact that when a little more than half way across he got in the wash off boats that were cruising round, and swallowed a lot of salt water, compelled R. J. Webster, of Auckland, to give up his Wellington Harbour swifn at a point one inile froth Eastbourne. The distance across was seven miles. Webste r started strongly from Welling* on, striking 58.60 strokes a minute,. at 10.30 a.m. About’ half Way across .it was generally considered that he would not succeed. He was given something to eat twice, and he grimly stuck to his task. 2 p.m. Webster called: “Something to eat! Something to eat!” Then almost immediately he lay in the water as though drowning, which, in fact, he would have done had hhlp not been nearer. J. Walker, of the Milford Surf Club ; who was rowing the accompanying dinghy, immediately dropped his oars and dived overboard and swam to the rescue, getting Webster, who was almost unconscious. into the dinghy. This proved a difficult job to Messrs M. Blomfield (Webster’s trainer), Walker and H. Warner (a pressman). The ordinary difficulties of getting a heavy man aboard were considerably added to by Webster’s thick coating of grease. Willing hands aboard the yacht Vagabond, owned by Mr A. M. Holmes, massaged Webster, and it was some time before ho showed signs of life. Webste r said later that the water was much colder than the Auckland water. I It is almost safe to say that this experience will show Webster the impossibility of swimming Cook Strait,, which h ehopes to attempt next weekend.