ATTACK BY OCTOPUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 10

ATTACK BY OCTOPUS.

YOUNG GIRL IN PERIL. BROTHER'S TIMELY RESCUE. TENSE STRUGGLE SUCCEEDS. For the first time on record, a bather in the Waitemata Harbour has been attacked by an octopus. The event caused a sensation at Stanley Bay on Thursday afternoon, and but for prompt assistance may easily have caused a tragedy. Miss Kathleen Cosgrove, aged 14, of Glen Road, Stanley Bay, was attacked by the octopus, and, in rescuing her, her brother, Mr. P. Cosgrove, aged 22, had also to combat the attentions of one of these marine terrors. Miss Cosgrove and her brother went for a swim at the Stanley Bay beach in the late afternoon. The tide was nearly at its lowest point and the two bathers had to wade out for some distance. The girl was in the water near the wharf when she trod ori what she thought was tho branch of a tree. Then this branch-like object floated curled itself round her legs and pulled her down into the water. The grip was terrifying and remorseless, and the girl screamed to her brother for help. Mr. Cosgrovo was swimming nearby and he hurried to his sister's rescue, little thinking that he would have to battle with such a terrible creature. Just as ho arrived the girl, was pulled under the water, and over the spot where she had disappeared a black fluid oozed ominously. Then another larger tentacle thrust its sinuous length out of the water and fastened like a vice on to Mr. C'osgrove's thigh. Tho young man gripped the thing and hurled it from him. Then he seized his sister and commenced a grim tug-of-war with the octopus. The creature pulled with uncanny strength, but Mr. Cosgrove nerved himself for an effort. Eventually his sister was in his arms,' free, and the octopus scuttled off in the shallow water. Mr. Cosgrove wa3 more than a little exhausted by his struggle, and was too much concerned for the safety of his sister to essay the capture of the creature which had imperilled her life. She was borne from the water, terrified and almost limp with the shock. Her legs were swollen and bleeding where the deadly tentacles had grippod them, and Mr. Cosgrove, too, bore marks of the creature's powerful grip. Brother and sister were taken home and their wounds were cleaned and dressed. Miss Cosgrove yesterday was still suffering from shock and unable to leave her home, but otherwise neither had suffered greatly from the attack. The octopus which nearly caused a fatality was in all probability not very large. Mr. Cosgrove gauged the length of the tentacle which was fastened round, his leg as being about 4ft., and the creature's strength was quite sufficient to make his fight extremely arduous, and, nerhaps, somewhat hazardous.