EXCITING RESCUE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 7 May 1926, Page 8

EXCITING RESCUE.

RAPID RISE OF RIVER

TWO MEN MAROONED

There was an exciting rescue of tgHjgS) men the other day in the Hurt which, in consequence of heavy vain; J inland, rose to a. considerable height > with that rapidity which is characteristic of it. V The two men, Messrs F. Davis and H. Dutliie, Public Works Department employees, were working on a steam navvy, obtaining shingle fromAhe bed of the river between the riSphy and the Lower Ilutt- bridges. They had just commenced work at about 6 a.m. when the waters came down. The river rose three feet- in as many minutes, and kept on rising, with the result that the men were not only soon isolated, but were in serious danger. Mr. Dutliie tried to swim ashore, but the strength of the current was such that he could only reach a telephone pole stretching over the stream. This soon carried away, but he managed to reach another and climbed on to it. Meanwhile Mr. Davis had been 1 forced to take refuge on the derrick of the navvy, which sway «so alarmingly that it looked as if it would carry away, at -any moment. His 10-year-old son, who had by this time arrived, stripped and plunged into the raging current in a plucky attempt to assist his father, but was carried downstream and had to climb out almost exhausted.

Then Mr. Robert Haddy, another employee of the Depai'tment, made a similar attempt, but lie, too, found the rushing torrent too much for him and reached the bank again in a breathless condition. In the meantime several of the qnlookers who had sized up the situation correctly had gone to Gear Island, where they loaded a boat on a lorry, brought it" to the scene, and placed' it in the water. Messrs F. Kershaw and L. Glennie then entered it and went to the rescue, but the current once more took charge and carried them downstream. They towed the boat well up river again, and then made another attempt. Skilfully manoeuv- \ ring it close to Mr. Duthie, they-' shouted to him to jump and he landed fairlv in the craft Then then ttirned their attention to the other man, but Mr. Davis had decided to swim for it, and lie managed to reach the shore just when he was about “all in.”