A GALLANT RESCUE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 August 1927, Page 5

A GALLANT RESCUE.

HORSEMAN SAVES THREE OTHERS. INCIDENT ON MURIWAI BEACH. (by TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 29. Three m.en had a. miraculous escape from drowning at the Muriwai Beach yesterday afternoon. They were Messrs Tibby, Hilton and Richards, of Wnimauku. They were fisliiing with a net above a creek on the beach. The her. had just been laid, Hilton being at the end farthest from the shore. Three large waves in succession swept Hilton off his feet. Tibby let go the net to go .to Hilton’s assistance, with the result that all three lost their foothold. The net then became entangled round Hilton. Luckily Bert Fletcher, of Waimauku, a former Auckland Rugby representative, rode on to the beach at that moment and immediately went to the rescue. Ho rescued Tibby and brought him safely into shallow water, where another member of the party, Le took charge of him.

Fletcher next Tode to Hilton. The horse was swept off its feet, but recovered its foothold. . Fletcher reached Hilton as the latter became unconscious and brought him to the beach. He then returned for Richards. By the time the Inst man had been brought, in half an hour had elapsed since the accident occurred.

Hilton was the only one who could swim, but, entangled in the net, he was hopeless. Tibb.v stated that the three men would, without doubt, have lost their lives but for Fletcher’s gallant rescue.