GALLANT RESCUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21708, 25 January 1934, Page 8

GALLANT RESCUE

LIFE-SAVERS' COURAGE

BIG /)SEAS CONQUERED

THRILLS ON THE BEACH Life-savers at North Narrabeen Beach, Sydney, recently performed magnificent work in rescuing from a dangerous surf a man who was being rapidly carried out to sea in a sivift undertow. Mr. James Reilly, beach inspector at

North Narrabeen and a winner this season of several open surf races, swam without a belt to the drowning man — Mr. Joseph Newton, a storekeeper, of Windsor —and brought him part of the way to the beach. He was assisted the rest of the way by Mr. W. Proudfoot, a past surf champion and beach inspector of* the South Narrabeen Club. A member of the North Narrabeen Club, Mr. S. Wright, donned the life-saving, belt and actually reached Mr. Newton before Mr. Reilly did, but collapsed after his battering by the big waves, and had to be pulled ashore and revived. Mr. Reilly's remarkable feat was warmly praised by surf club officials. A report of the incident is to be made to the Surf Life-saving Association of Australia, which makes special awards for gallantry in surf rescues. Grip ol the Undertow Mr. Newton was spending a holiday at Narrabeen with his wife. They en- : tered the surf about seven o'clock. Mrs. Newton remained in shallow water, but her husband ventured out further. waves were "dumping" with great strength and there was a treacherous undertow. Another holidaymaker, Mr. F. Stockton, of Bf-xley, who was also in the water, called out a warning to Mr. Newton not to venture out too far, but the latter disappeared under a big breaker and then, in the grip of the undertow, was carried helplessly out to sea. Mrs. Newton rushed ashore and cried for help. Mr. Stockton, realising that he could not man the surf belt without somebody to control the reel, roused the beach inspector, Mr. Reilly. Although he answered the call quickly, several other people had arrived at the beach, and Mr. Wright was already swimming out to Mr. Newton when Mr. Reilly reached the beach. Mr. Wright then collapsed and was pulled ashore. •

Mr. Reilly immediately plunged into I the surf,/and, shimming powerfully, was soon well on the way toward Mr. Newton, who, at that stage, appeared to be unconscious. After Mr. Reilly had reached Mr. Newton he was faced with the hardest part of his swim—the return journey with his unconscious burden. He battled his way toward the shore, constantly hindered by the undertow and avoiding "dumpers" wherever possible. A weak swimmer could not hare made progress. Use ol Two Lines

Welcome respite came for Mr. Reilly when Mr. Proudioot arrived with a surf line, and ;svith the line manned ashore by life-savers and other surfers, including women, Mr. Newton was towed to the beach. Artificial respiration was applied by the life-savers to Mr. Newton, and Dr. H. F. Alsop, who had been summoned, applied stimulants, some by means of hypodermic injection. Within half an hour the patient had recovered consciousness. He was carried to his flat, about 100 yards away, and put to bed. The secretary of the Surf Life-saving 'Association of Australia, Mr. G. Millar, said that the rescue appeared to have been particularly meritorious. The meritorious awards committee of the association would call for reports from witnesses and had power to award a silver medallion, a bronze medallion, or a certificate of merit. The silver medallion was a very rare honour and the recipient usually received the Albert Medal also.