PERCHED IN TREE

Northern Advocate, 4 February 1936, Page 9

PERCHED IN TREE

YOUTH TRAPPED AT KOKOPU

A youth at Kokopu on Saturday evening was subjected to a terrifying ordeal. His rescuers also underwent an anxious time, but the perils of the flood were overcome.

The youth was Roy Kokich. the 18-year-old son of Mr and Mrs V. Kokich, of Kokopu.

About 7 o’clock he left home to move two horses from their flooded paddock, about a quarter of a mile away, but before he had acomplished the task, he was trapepd in a swirling torrent. After a desperate attempt to escape, he had to seek refuge in a tall tree, where for two hours he was perched, enduring the pouring rain and gale. His mother became anxious, and, with the youth's father marooned at Whangarei, she communicated with an uncle, Mr P. Kokich, who with two relatives and two neighbours, set out in a. flat-bottomed boat to effect a rescue. The rescuers struggled against a raging torrent and the gale, and gradually neared young Kokich’s crude perch, when one of the two oars broke. Eventually the boat was got near the tree and a rope thrown to the occupant, who tied it to the tree. The craft then pulled close enough to allow him to board. He was then carried home.

Kokich was only wearing a singlet when rescued, he having had to discard his other clothing in his attempt to swim to safety. He suffered badly from shock and exposure, and was forced to sp§nd Sunday in bed. The rescue effected by Mr P. Kokich and party was a very praiseworthy effort.