ALMOST A DISASTER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 25 March 1922, Page 4

ALMOST A DISASTER.

BOATING ACCIDENT AT NGAERE

SPLENDID WORK BY RESCUERS

Whilst the merriment was at its height at the Hawera schools' picnic, held at the Ngaere Gardens yesterday, a boat containing eleven boys was capsized about a dozen yards from the shore of the lake. The headmaster of the Main School gave a Star reporter the following account of the mishap: It appears that the boys were in the act of pulling the boat across the lake by means of a rope stretched from side to side when their craft tipped up, and they were all thrown into the water. Some of the boys could swim and some could not, and when they attempted to get into the boat it turned turtle. One or two swam to shore, but the remainder were left struggling in the water or clinging to the boat. As sooa as the adults became aware of what had happened Messrs Pratt, Bullock, Lester, 'Evans^, Hannah, Turner, and a boy named Leslie Walker jumped into the water and went to the rescue. Three of the boys in the water were able to give some assistance, but for a time matters looked very bad. However, the boys were eventually brought ashore with difficulty. Some were in an, exhausted condition, and Mrs. Pratt and Mr. Strack adopted resuscitation methods. One of the boys, whose name is Tekovsky, was unconscious, but in about five minutes, resjunvkion 'was restored. Thanks 'lo Mr." promptness in summoning a doctor" medical aid was available within a few minutes of the accident. Every attention was given the boys by Mr. and Mrs. Lester (who were kindness itself), Miss Slattery, and Messrs Jackson. Hobbs, and Strack. Mr. Candy and Mr. French brought most of the boys home to Hawera in their cars, but lekovsky and Murray remained at Ngaere overnight under doctors orders. Advice from Ngaere this morning stated that both boys were quite well and would return to Hawera this morning. It was indeed fortunate that some of the boys could swim enough to help themselves a little.