YOUTH IN SHARK’S JAWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 112, 11 April 1929, Page 10

YOUTH IN SHARK’S JAWS.

HEROIC ACT OF RESCUE. BRAVEST DEED IN A YEAR, Conspicuous courage, on the p/irt of a South African farmer in rescuing a youth of the same name, but having no relationship, from the attack of a shark has been rewarded by the Royal Humane Society with the Stanhope Gold Medal; for the bravest deed of last year. The circumstances were related to a general court sitting in London, under the presidency of Earl Beatty. The central figure in the perilous adventure was Mr Andres Muller Heyiis, aged 39, a farmer, of Mounthope. On December 28, 1927, lie was bathing in about five feet of water at Little Brack Beach, Mossel Bay, South Africa. There were other bathers in the water, among them being several children, Mr Ockardus H. Heyns, a 17-year-old student, and Mr W. A. Gericke., Suddenly Air Gericke noticed a dark object approaching Ockardus Heyns. He gave a shout of warning, arid Ockardus, noticing the shadow as well, began swimming toward the. shore. Bpt it was too late. To everybody’s horror, the shark was seen to seize Ockardus and drag him some distance out to to sea, where he was out pf his depth. Air Gericke saw the water turn red, and hastened ashore to get a life-line. Mr A. AI. Heyns went straight to the rescue, and never hesitated, although the monster was still circling slowly round the blood-stained patch of water. Although exhausted by his efforts, he dragged Ockardus into shallow water and carried him ashore, where it was found that the youth s left leg had been bitten off above the knee and his right foot completely crushed. He was hurried to Mossel Bav Hospital, but died the same night. The snark, which was afterwards caught and killed by local fishermen,, was 14ft: 7in. long and weighed 5751 b.