ORDEAL AT AUQKLAND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 December 1927, Page 7

ORDEAL AT AUQKLAND.

GIRL’S HARROWING' EXPERIENCE. Attacked by an octopus at Stanley Bav on Friday, Kathleen Cosgrove, 14. was dragged under water in the grip of the monster’s ten tact's. She was saved from a horrible fate only by the prompt action of her brother, Mr -Pat: Cosgrove, who dashed to her assistance. Both bear nasty marks of the suckers which clung to their legs (states th?: Auckland correspondent of the “Dominion.” in tlie. middle of the afternoon, wl*ui the tide was fast receding and fairly low. the gir.l and her elder brother went for a .swim at the beaclx njear the pier. As the water was shallow, thev had to wade out a long way before finding sufficient depth m which to swim. ■■ . , The girl was playing about near some piles when she trad on something which she at first thought was the branch of a tree, hut which she soon discovered to be something more animate Tlie unseen thing curled about her legs, upset hex- balance in the water," and hung on. Miss Cosgrove palled to her brother, who was swimming in the vicinity. Just as he reached the spot the octopus dragged the girl under water, at the. sanie time issuing the inkv black fluid which octopi ’emit to embarrass and blind their victims. Simultaneously another and larger tentacle came out of the water and curled about Mr Cosgrove s above the knee. The young man "•rasped the deadly arm and tore it From his leg and pulled vigorously at his sister in an endeavour to free her fram "the menacing tentacles In the comparatively shallow water in which the struggle took place the octopus was eventually driven off Mr Co strove was too concerned about the rescue of his sister, and the little gvrL was too upset, to attempt to capture it till it was too late. When they emerged from the water both Mr Cosgrove .and his sister were swollen and bleeding about the legs, the marks on the girl looking particular angry. Home remedies and disinfectants'were applied, and but for the shock and memorv of it neither of th, voii nc people had suffered greatly by their" menviable experience.