SAVED FROM DROWNING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 10

SAVED FROM DROWNING.

VEHICLE CAUGHT IN FORD. DRIVER'S NARROW ESCAPE. -{BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] THAMES, Wednesday An escape from death by drowning in the Kauaerange River yesterday was experienced by Mr. Basil Smith, a Thames milk vendor. Mr. Smith was fording the flooded stream in a light horse-drawn vehicle on his return from Thames with empty milk cans and butter boxes when a strong undertow carried the horse off its feet and swept the vehicle down' stream, on the crest of a swirling torrent. As Mr. Smith fell out of his cart the gale flattened out his stiff canvas raincoat on the water, and this helped him to keep afloat until his cries attracted the attention of Mr. J. Doherty, who went to his rescue in a light canoe. Mr. Doherty eventually succeeded in saving the drowning man, who was in an advanced stage ot exhaustion when the bank of the river was reached. Ho recovered after prolonged restorative measures, and was conveyed to his home. Struggling desperately the horse was swept tnto a deep bole and drowned, rhero was 110 sign of tho vehicle. The empty cans were recovered this morning at the Shortland Wharf, over a milo from the scene of tho accident.