EPIC SWIM

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 February 1930, Page 11

EPIC SWIM

"ETROIM Pbrth comes the story of a ya/oh ting tragedy enriched by a narrative of the bravery of the sole .survivor, a ytoung! .ddlieitor, (Gordon Bed'e Darcy. * In the dark, through shark-infested waters, Darcy swam for five miles in a vain effort to bring aid' to his comrades. 'The swim against a strong current took five hours, and' during most of the time Darcy suffered from cramp*. Still, remembering the plight of the three men whom he left clinging to the waterlogged craft, he refused to give in. As he neared the shore of Rottnest Island ho was dashed against, the rocks, and battered and bruised, he landed on the beach. Then he struggled to a nearby house and told the occupants what had happened. Boats were quickly launched, but they failed to find any trace tof the missing* men—Laurie Firth, Phillip Garnet Summers, and Joseph Boucoek, all young men.

All the men. with the exception of Boueock, were able swimmers, and Summers, the skipper of the 20ft yacht Wattle, was an able yachtsman. The reason for the tragedy is unknowtn. The yacht in which the men were sailing did not- strike a rock or a reef. About midnight, when half-way between Rottnest Island and the mainland the yacht started to make water. The men >son realised the seriousness of the position, but they were not prepared to see the foundering of the vessel within a few minutes. Yet that

Shark-Infested Waters

fis what happened. They all fought strenuously to .prevent the inevitable. Kefioscno tins wore used to bail out the water, but all to no The yacht filled rapidly and s.ank, leaving only a small .portion above the water. 'Summers, Firth, and Boucoek stayed with the yacht, clinging to the mast and the boom which were visible above the water, and Darcy agreed to strike out for the shore. Boucoek seemed to realise that there was no hope for him, and he said almost cheerfully, “Goodbye, boys.’’ Darcy could sec the beacon light off Rottnest, and he made straight for that. He had a fearful struggle, andJ was practically exhausted when he reached the island settlement. As so'on as day broke urn aeroplane assisted in the search, but no trace could be found of the men who had been left behind.

It was subsequently ascertained that on the trip down the river the yacht went ashore, and that may have caused a/ strain in the seams. It is also thought that recent hot weather may have opened the seams. Still it is difficult to dis'eover why the yacht opened up so suddenly and sank with such little warning. The locality in which the tragedy occurred is noted for the number of sharks seen there, and it is feared that the men who lost their lives suffered a dreadful fate. It is considered remarkable that Darcy was able to reach the shore. Not taking into account the sharks, his swim was a remarkable one.