Drifted Five Miles On Kapok Mattress

Northern Advocate, 2 April 1941, Page 9

Drifted Five Miles On Kapok Mattress

[Special to “Northern Advocate”'] AUCKLAND, This Day.

A tragedy nearly occurred at Cockle Eay yesterday during the rescue of a fisherman who was apparently in difficulties half a mile from the beach. Unable to swim back to his launch after his dinghy was swamped in a rescue attempt, the would-be rescuer drifted almost five miles on a kapok mattress through choppy water before he made a safe landing on a beach on the far side of the Howick estuary

Fisherman’s Holiday

The fisherman was Mr Stanley Allen, of 70 King George Avenue, Epsom, who was spending a holiday at Cockle Bay. He left in the morning to go fishing, and was prevented from returning by an ofi'-shore wind and the rising tide. His plight was seen by Mr Alfred James Minifie. of Cockle Bay, and he put off in his launch with Mr Allan J. McGregor to bring the dinghy ashore.

When they reached Mr Allen, Mr Minifie rowed across in his own dinghy and took him on board. On the way back the small craft was swamped and both men were thrown into the water.

Could Not Start Launch

Mr Allen swam to the launch, and was hauled on board, but Mr Minifie, who is an elderly man, was driven seaward. When last seen by the two on the launch he was about a quarter of a mile distant, and drifting rapidly towards the open sea. Neither Mr McGregor nor Mr Allen could start the launch, but a kapok mattress was thrown to Mr Minifie before he drifted away.

About 4 p.m. Mr Minifies son arrived from Auckland, and brought the launch ashore. No traces of Mr Minifie were found until shortly before 5 o’clock when he landed at Beachland on the ether side of the Howick Estuary. Although exhausted by his ordeal he suffered no ill-effects.