CLINGING TO BOAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23231, 28 December 1938, Page 10

CLINGING TO BOAT

tWO HOURS IN WATER SCHOOLBOYS RESCUED EXHAUSTED WHEN FOUND LONG DRIFT IN CHANNEL The keen hearing of two men occupying holiday baches near the beacon on Rangitoto Island prevented tragedy following an attempt by two secondary school boys to cross from Cheltenham Beach to Rangitoto in a light rowingskiff yesterday afternoon. After their frail craft had overturned near Duder's Point, the lads spent about two hours in the water before being rescued in an exhausted condition several miles further down the channel. The boys, Jack Chignell, of Grahame Street, Devonport, and Trevor Titchener, of Wairoa Road, Devonport, made their attempt in a single-scull skiff, the pair Bitting abreast at -ths oars. Rescuers Set Out In the choppy Bea the craft capsized shortly after leaving the beach and, with their plight unnoticed from the North Shore, the boys clung to the overturned boat in the hope that help would arrive later. Shortly after three o'clock Mr. H. M. Matthews, of Devonport, who was spending a holiday near the beacon on Rangitoto, heard calk for help from the channel.. Seeing what appeared to be a canoe about half a mile off-shore, he launched a dinghy equipped with an outboard motor and went to the boys assistance. Almost simultaneously, another resident, Mr. H. M. McMurtrie, took out a boat to aid in the rescue. Quick Recovery Made The boys were found clinging to their overturned craft. They were suffering considerably from their long immersion, but they speedily recovered when taken to the shore. They were brought back to Devonport last night. Increasing alarm had been felt by the boys' parents when they failed to return to their homes late in the afternoon. No sign of the boat was seen in the channel and fears were entertained for their safety until a launch owner returning to Auckland from Rangitoto told them of the rescue.