TRAGEDY NEAR SYDNEY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22694, 5 April 1937, Page 6

TRAGEDY NEAR SYDNEY

LfFE-SAVER AND PATIENT" ] GALLANT ATTEMPT AT RESCUE [from our own* correspondent] » SYDNEY, March 31 In a heroic rescue attempt, Charles Dennis, aged 24, a champion life-saving club ewimmer, was drowned battling through terrific seas to aid a man in distress,at The Entrance, about 50 miles north of Sydney. Mr. Dennis reached the man 200 yards from the beach, but lost him when both were battered by the waves. 1 The bather was drowned. Mr. Dennis went primarily to the aid of a clubmate, Mr. William Herbert, who was supporting two men who were being rapidly swept out to sea. When Mr. Dennis reached Mr. Herbert, both patients were in distress. Mr. Herbert caught a big wave and got one of the men ashore, but five gigantic waves swept over Mf. Dennis in succession and in the boiling surf he lost the other patient. He swam out again and began dir. ing. So high were the seas, however, that when he was exhausted and raised bis arm to "indicate his distress, few were aware of his desperate plight. He was caught by a huge wave and swept near the beach, where he was dragged ashore in an unconscious condition. His patient was lost sight of. Relays 0 f life-savers assisted in an attempt to resuscitate Mr. Dennis, but although they worked for 45 minutes, breathing could not be restored.

Wiiile the life-savers were trying to revive Mr. Dennis, the alarm was 'raised that two more men were being carried out to sea in the direction of Chinaman's Beach. The men were about 500 yards out. Messrs. Victor White and Jack Wiggins, who had been assisting in the resuscitation work, swam out. Mr. White had . a terrific battle to reach a man more than a quarter of a mile out, but succeeded in bringing his patient ashore. Mr. Wiggins rescued the other man and also another surfer.