GRIM REALITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 15 February 1926, Page 5

GRIM REALITY.

LIFE-SAVING WORK AT SUMNER

(BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 14.

Make-believe developed into grim reality in the junior life-saving contest at Sunnier on Saturday. In the end timely rescues were made by a motorboat outside the bar, and an unconscious swimmer was resuscitated.

The trouble began when tlie North Beach team’s subject mistook tlie direction of the buoy. For a few minutes liis team waited, thinking that he would collect liis course. This he did not do, and eventually the team was sent out for the competition. J. Richards (belt man) and J. Brown (support) made good time for their subject, but soon found that in spite of liis vigorous swimming lie was going farther out to sen

By this time everybody on shore was concerned about the safety of all three lads. Nearly two reels of life line were out, and the North Beach subject was almost out of sight. Three Sumner men, D. Richardson, J. Sutherland, and R. Blackmore, then rushed into the surf, and D. Wilson donned another belt and took a line out from a point nearer the men. Urgent messengers were sent also to call out the lifeboat, for at least three of the swimmers were in real danger. When the suspense of the watching crowd was becoming acute, the motorboat Pacific was obtained and made full speed over the breakers of the bar. Snell, the subject, was first picked up, and he collapsed when hauled on board. Richardson had just reached him and had supported him for some moments. These two, with G. Brown, were brought back to the pier. Meanwhile J. Sutherland had become exhausted and was helped ashore in a dazed condition. Blackmore, who had taken over the North Beach belt, was unable to manage the great length of line behind him, and he signalled to the Pacific to be picked up. The signal was mistaken, and when he was pulled ashore lie was unconscious and in a bad way. In an hour, after persistent resuscitation treatment, and with the application of heat from half a dozen water bottles, blankets and rugs, he revived and was later helped home.