RESCUED PRAM DROWNING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16822, 12 April 1918, Page 4

RESCUED PRAM DROWNING

WOMAN FALLS OVERBOARD. ACCIDENT OFF THE BARRIER. A middle-aged woman, who gives her namo as May Page, a widow, had a narrow escape from drowning yesterday. She fell overboard from the Northern Steamship Company's vessel Waipu at about 7.30 a.m., while on the voyage from Auckland to the Great Barrier Island. The accident occurred just as the steamer cleared Tryphena, the Waipu being only about four chains from the coast at the time. This accentuated the danger, as, after the alarm was given, the captain had to turn the vessel toward the rocks, so that the struggling woman would escape the propellor. A heavy sea was running. A boat was lowered immediately, and the mate, a seaman, and a deck hand soon reached the woman. She was then lying face downwards in the water, without any apparent movement, The drowning woman was drawn into the boat, and taken to the vessel, where, after artificial respiration had been applied for about half an she regained consciousness. She was bound for Flat Island, but, owing to her condition, she was brought back to Auckland, whore, upon arrival of the Waipu at about 8 p.m., she was taken by ambulance to the district hospital.