HEROISM IN FLOODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21473, 22 April 1933, Page 11

HEROISM IN FLOODS

REFUGE IN TREES SWIMMER'S FINE FEAT Jack Huntingford, a resident of ily rescued a man in the flooded Eastern Creek near Riverstone last week. The police have made a report to the Royal Humane Society, proposing that Huntingford be fittingly rewarded. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, Henry James Ussher and Lars Rasmussen, employed at the Riverstone Meat Works, approached the bridge across the Eastern Creek. Flood waters were rushing across the bridge in torrents, and the water was 4ft. above the ordinary road level. Huntingford had warned the men not to attempt to cross the bridge, as they would have* no chance of reaching the other side, but his warning was .disregarded. The horse and cart approached the bridge, but before it could reach the bridge it had been caught in the swirling tide, and was carried along the creek and tossed about like a cork. The men were washed from the vehicle, and were carried about 30 yards down stream, when they had tho good fortune to hit a tree and cling on. Ussher found himself on a tree in the middle of the flood waters, while Ramussen was in a tree nearer the bank, but in a position almost as precarious. Ussher had the utmost difficulty in clinging on. It is certain that had their hold been relaxed for a moment they would have _ been drowned. They remained in this position for about an hour until several people, who had come to look at the waters, discovered them. A message was sent to Constable Gallagher, who immediately went to the rescue. He afterwards stated that he had never seen the current so fierce. It was impossible to stand on the road, oven on the edge of the flood waters. Attempts were made for about an hour and a-half by the constable and a band of assistants to reach the men with ropes, without avail. At length, Constable Gallagher called for volunteers to swim to Usshcr's tree. There was only one offer, that of Huntingford, who stripped and tied a rope round his waist. The rope was held by the others on the shore, and Huntingford swam about 30 yards through the flood, reaching the tree with a line, which he tied round Ussher. After a hard fight he managed to get Ussher to safety. , V Onlookers state that Huntingford .* was a splendid effort. It was the more remarkable because he was just recovering from an operation. Mr. Drayton, of Riverstone, swam to Kasmussen's tree, which was away from the swifter current, and rescued him isi a similar fashion. Ussher and Rasmussen, when rescued, were suffering from shock and exposure to the cold. Tho horse was washed a considerable di»» tance down stream and was drowned*

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