NEARLY A TRAGEDY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 8 March 1927, Page 5

NEARLY A TRAGEDY

GIRLS IN DANGER

DURING SWIMMING TEST. (BY TELEGRAPH “PRESS ASSOCIATION. I AUCKLAND, March 7. A party Of about 20 girls from Takapuma school had a narrow escape from drowning at Takapuna beach this afternoon. While a swimming test was being conducted, they were suddenly swept out towards the channel by the undertow, and but for the prompt action of the headmaster, Mr G. H. Matthews, who went to their assistance in a dinghy, many might have lost their lives.

The girls were all good swimmers, and although the test of swimming 140 yardis was not considered .severe, precautions were taken to guard against unforeseen happenings. About a dozen boys, all good swimmers, were in the water, and) the girls had to swim 100 yards between a line of boys and the beach. Mr Matthews was on the shore with a dinghy, ready manned. The danger came suddenly and unexpectedly. The boys waded out beyond the line of breakers to their allotted positions, and had been standing still forfa few minutes when several found they had lost their . footing ind were being swept to sea. The girls, closer in shore, had' also been seized by the undertow, and slowly they were being carried further away from the shore. Those on the beach at once realised the gravity of the situation, and Mr Matthews jumped into the waiting boat and rowed to the rescue. There was another boat on the beach, and this was manned -by Mr Laws, a teacher, and two boys. Alister How-den and George Martin.

The boys reached the struggling girl® and 1 helped them to withstand the current until such time ns the boats arrived .