BATTLE WITH BREAKERS FOR COMPANIONS’ LIVES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6886, 16 April 1929, Page 6

BATTLE WITH BREAKERS FOR COMPANIONS’ LIVES

Raglan Bar Tragedy SILVER MEDAL FOR GALLANT YOUNG MAN Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH. Last Night. At a meeting of the court of directors of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand, it was decided to award the silver medal to Lewis Roderick Park, fisherman, of Raglan, for attempting to rescue William Henry Park, nged 58, Clarence Walter, aged 26 and Louis Lawrence Bertling. aged 17, from drowning at Raglan bar on January 20, 1929. While crossing the Raglan bar. the launch in which were all of the party named, was swamped and sank, leaving the occupants clinging to the wreckage some distance off the land. Mr. W. H. Park was several times washed off the wreckage but his son, Lewis Roderick Park, succeeded in getting him back each time. The father became exhausted and died but the son held him long after, until separated by a big breaker. Park then assisted Walker and held him up till a breaker separated them and Walker sank. Young Park then made for the shore against a strong ebb tide. On the way he found Bertling, who could not swim, hanging to the wreckage and being swept out to sea. Park, after a long struggle brought Bertling to shore, having been in the water over two hours. Park was picked up on the beach, much exhausted and was in a critical state for a week, requiring medical attention.