THRILLING RESCUES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22404, 28 April 1936, Page 8

THRILLING RESCUES

FISHERMEN IN PERIL GALLANT MELBOURNE YOUTH [from our own correspondent] MELBOURNE, April 17 Crawling along the top of a swaying breakwater in almost total darkness. with heavy seas breaking continuously over him, Alfred Dixon, aged 20, in the height of a gale, this week, rescued two exhausted amateur fishermen, one after the other. With a lifeline tied /to his waist Dixon had to scramble along the 100 yds of narrow ledge twice. The hardest part of his task, he said, was making up his mind to go through with the second trip. Messrs. John Nelson, of Preston, and his nephew, Stuart Josephs, set out for ft fortnight's fishing, undeterred by rough weather. Their craft, a 17ft. motor-launch, weathered the squalls which prevailed all day, and at night they decided to make for Mordinlloc Creek to ' shelter. Their engine failed when the boat was 50yds from the breakwater and the small craft was tossed on' huge waves, which soon had the occupants in difficulties. Both men were thrown out as the craft turned over. The water was extremely cold and, although /they were half frozen, they hung to the keel as long as they could, then they struck out for the breakwater, which they had seen before misfortune overtook them. They reached the piles of the breakwater, but were too exhausted to drag themselves up. •/ Dixon, with a number of other men, had been watching from the pier and when the men did not show up on the breakwater, he volunteered to assist. When he had tied the lifeline to each man in turn he half swam and was half towed ashore. Both Nelr Josephs had to receive medical