CUT OFF BY THE TIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

CUT OFF BY THE TIDE.

DRAMA ON A SANDBANK,

In tho nick of timo a young couple who wore cut off by tho tido on a sandbank about threo miles from Fleetwood wero rescued by a motor-boat. Tho esperionco befell Leonard Coupe, 20, of Hawkfield Road, Accrington, and Annio Dcwhurst, 20, of Marlborough Road, Accrington, who were spending a holiday at Fleetwood. While walking on tho sands they failed to notice the incoming tide, and they soon found themselves surrounded. Luckily, their plight was noticed, and motor-boats mado a thrilling dash to tho rescue. Before the couplo could bo reached, however, they wero swept off tho sandbank bv the tide.

Daviil Wood, ono of tho rescuers, afterwards stated: "As wo approached the sandbank wo could just seo the head and shoulders of someone in tho water. Then wo lost sight of the couple, owing to breakers sweeping over the bank. As we got closer wo saw that tho man was keeping the woman afloat. The man appealed to be a good swimmer, but tho woman eouid not swim. They were floating, and the tide was whirling them round in circles. When we reached them tho woman was semi-conscious. The man was able to scramble on board, although he collapsed when we got him to the hospital." Tho rescue was watched by hundreds of people on shore.