THRILLS IN SURF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22045, 27 February 1935, Page 8

THRILLS IN SURF

©ANGEROUS UNDERTOW

MANY SYDNEY RESCUES

ONE BOY TWICE SAVED Rough seas and treacherous currents fon some of the Sydney beaches during a recent •week-end caused many bathers to get into difficulties. Life-savers effected numerous rescues, including some under most dangerous conditions. A boy who was carried out to sea at •Wanly on the Saturday afternoon and rescued in exciting circumstances, had exactly the same experience on the following afternoon. He recovered shortly after both rescues and disappeared after a word of thanks to the men who had risked their lives to save him. He refused to give lys name. Trenieridou§ seas were breaking on the beach on Saturday 'when the boy got into difficulties. He was caught in the undertow, and in a few minutes ■was more shore. Messrs. Dudley Beer and Edward Clare donned belts and swam out to his aid. When Mr. Beer reached him the boy was at the point of exhaustion from the severe buffeting he had received. Mr. Beer grasped the boy, and with •Mr. Clare swimming near by, signalled to the team on the beach to commence dragging in the line. Because of the heavy sea arid the treacherous undertow, however, Mr. Beer and his charge were repeatedly dragged below the surface. He then gave the danger signal, and operations were temporarily suspended. Boy Brought Ashore In i;he meantime Mr. Allan Lyons had seen the predicament of Mr. Beer and the boy and swam out to them on a surfboard. The boy was placed on the board and Mr. Lyons paddled with him around the rocks to the beach at Fairy Bower, where he was brought ashor§. Messrs. Beer and Clare reached shore Bafely.

On the Sunday afternoon the boy again got into difficulties, and was swept more than 400 yards to sea at the southern end of the beach. Mr. E. Clift swam out with a lifebelt, and Mr. Clare, who had taken part in the previous rescue, paddled out on a surfiboard. The boy was so far from the beach that the first line ran out before Mr. Clift leached the bather, and another tine hud to be joined to it. The heavy sea again prevented the shore crew from pulling the rescuer and the .patient ashore, but by that time Mr. Clare had arrived on the surfboard. The ifcoy, who was exhausted, was placed on the board. Mr. Clift was pulled iashore, while Mr. Clare pushed the Burfboiird to more sheltered waters. The boy recovered before they reached the beach, and made off as soon as he touched dry land, leaving Mr. Clare to jcarry the surfboard back to Manly.

Life-savers had a tremendous battle iagainst a strong undertow when they went io the rescue of three bathers who Were carried" out at North Bondi on the Sunday evening. Two of them were without lifelines, and had great difficulty in bringing their charges ashore. There were heavy seas in the afternoon, land a. strong cross-current developed toward evening. Exhausted Bathers Shortly before 6 o'clock a woman iand two men were seen to be in difficulties! about 100 yards out. Mr. J. "Lapthorne, a beach inspector, swam out with n line to a man who Was farthest but, and was being rapidly carried out to sen. Two other inspectors, Messrs. Q\ Mtiagher and A. Laidlaw, went out Jwithoiit lines to the assistance of the Jwomai and the other man. They wer« but for nearly a quarter of an hour. -One of the rescued men and the woman were no exhausted that they had to be carried to the clubhouse on stretchers, but tiiev recovered after treatment.

Hej.vv seas and a pounding surf made swimming , conditions dangerous at Cronnlla on the Sunday, and throughout tie day, life-savers were kept busy rescuing bathers who had been swept out bv the strong undertow. Early v in the cay six men and two girls were carried out together and were caught 5n a strong cross-current that swep+ from the northern to the southern end of th<s beach. Six beltmen went to the freflcuO and all were brought safely ashor ;. During the day 25 people were rescuod.