HEROIC RESCUE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 199, 21 July 1930, Page 10

HEROIC RESCUE.

GIRL’S PRESENCE OE MIND. DUNEDIN, July 19. A few mornings ago, a young man named R. J. Mackenzie, employed on the Walter Peak station, nearly lost his life by drowning in Lake Wakatipu. The steamer Ben Lomond had made her regular call at Beach Bay. and as she was moving out again, Mr McKenzie, who had gone aboard to talk to a passenger made an attempt to jump back on the wharf. In so doing he felj into the lake, which is some 20 to 2-3 feet deep at this spot, and he was unable to swim. The danger of his position was .increased by the easterly wind which was blowing and by the wash caused by the propeller of the steamer. In answer to an alarm raised by the group of people collected on the wharf, Miss Peggy Mackenzie, a daughter of Major P. Mackenzie, quickly removed her frock and swam out to Mr Mackenzie’s rescue. Gripping hold of his wrist, she struck back for the shallow water, where her father and another of the station hands were waiting to give assistance. Had it not been for Miss Mackenzie’s pluck and presence of mind a drowning fatalitv would have occurred. From an early age Miss Mackenzie, who is now 18, has been a good swimmer.