SURF BATHERS IN DANGER

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3539, 22 February 1927, Page 8

SURF BATHERS IN DANGER

Tragedy Narrowly Averted —* I [Per Prtss Association.] WHANGAREI, Feb. 21. A sensationaj surfing accident occurred on the Ruakaka Beach on Saturday afternoon, six persons being in jeopardy upwards of an hour before all were Anally brought ashore. Two girls, Winnie McMillan, aged 14, and Mamie Graham, aged 15, got into difficulties at an isolated dangerous spot. , . , Four young men who attempted their rescue were also quickly in trouble. Another young man procured a rope and-* succeeded, after a plucky endeavour in bringing McMillan, one of the men, to safety. A rowboat was eventually found a mile distant and was manned by two men, who rescued the other four persons, the Girl Graham being then In a state of extreme exhaustion. The anxiety of the spectators was intensified‘by the knowledge that the locality is usually infested by sharks at this season of the year. i V CAUGHT IN UNDERTOW NEAR GISBORNE. BATHERS SAVED BY SWIMMER’S COOLNESS. GISBORNE, Feb. 21. Four bathers were imperilled yesterday by the undertow at Sponge Bay. a popular picnic resort near Gisborne, and were saved by the coolness and heroism of a middle-aged man named A. N. Dingle, who, with his two sons went to the rescue of Cookson, the victim of the undertow. All four were carried out a long way, Dingle assisting and encouraging Cookson, who was almost exhausted through his struggles while the elder Dingle boy helped hla brother, a novice swimmer. .Eventually, afte r a long fight, all reached shore in an exhausted condition. Cookson and the younger Dingle collapsing on the beach . Cookson is a much bigger man than Dingle, senior, who resources averted a tragedy. TWO DROWNING FATALITIES AT AUCKLAND. BOTH THROUGH SWAMPING OP BOAT. AUCKLAND, Feb. 21. Robert Brown/ aged 34, was drowned-on Sunday by the capsize of a boat containing a fishing ' party, when it was struck by a .squall after rounding thfe North Head. The others of the party were Charles Anderson, Harry Corrigan and Charles Yarwood. The four men held to the upturned boat about half-an-hour, then Brown disappeared. The others were rescued by a sailing boat. Brown is survived by a wif e and three children. Ira Broxon, aged 23, a resident of Mangere, was drowned at Panmure Beach, while rowing to a yacht In a coolapeible canvas canoe after midnight. , One of the yacht’s crew, who Is a strong swimmer, dived and grasped the deceased, but after ten minutes he lost hold of him in the darkness and could not locate him again. Broxon was a prominent athlete, an upholsterer by trade, and resided with his widowed mother at Mangere. FELL IN SEA FROM LAUNCH VERDICT OP ACCIDENTAL DEATH WELLINGTON. Feb. 21. At the inquest on Charles Clifford Harper, who was losif from a launch in the harbour on February 6, a verdict of accidental drowning was refiturned. t ■The evidence showed that the body •was not clothed when recovered. A heavy military overcoat and gum boots were worn when deceased fell overboard, indicating that they had been removed in the water, but that Harper became exhausted.

DRAY WHEEL PASSES OVER BODY YOUTH SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES. INVERCARGILL, Feb. 21. Cecil Shields, aged 17, while,carting gravel at Otara, fell from a dray, a wheel passing over his body. Two hours after he was admitted- to hospital he died from his injuries.