NOTORIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20586, 8 December 1928, Page 20

NOTORIETY.

' ■ FOR NEW ZEALAND SWIMMER. A BONDI BEACH SENSATION. (From . Oun Own CoußEsr ondent. ) SYDNEY, November 29. On Saturday last Ronald John Weoster, a . New Zealander spending a holiday in Sydney, was unknown to the thousands of the metropolis. On Sunday reporters were scouring the suburbs to find out where he lived. ■On Monday he woke to fame, with his picture in the papers. And he had not slashed anyone with a razor, nor had he shot a man on sight at a street corner, or won the first prize in. a lottery or an art union. He had merely been for a “little swim” in the surf at Bondi.

The. sea was unusually rough, when this intrepid young man, described -as one of the Dominion's champion swimmers and a winner of the Kellerman Cup twice in succession, went for his “ little swim,” and the regular bathers - pt close in to the beach. Not so Webster. He went right out beyond the breakers, 500 yards from the shore, and 6000 people watched him breathlessly, almost, for they thought that he'had been caught in the undertow and carried out to sea. It was just such a day for just such a thing to happen. It had already been decided that it was too rough for the regular surfing competitions, and during the afternoon the lifesavers had effected 10 rescues.

It was after all the bathers who had been in difficulties had been brought ashore, and the beach was regaining its normal appearance, that a man was seen out beyond the breakers. He appeared to ..be swimming at his ease, but all the same his position was regarded from the shore as distinctly dangerous. The club members thereupon Concentrated on bringing' the mail inshore, and several of the most experienced men dashed/into the surf without waiting to put on their lifebelts. However, they were unable to get through the big seas and were forced to return. As the man was drifting further from the shore, it was decided that it would be impossible to reach him with the life lines, so it was decided to man the Surf boat. The crew had considerable difficulty in steering the craft through the breakers, but eventually succeeded in doing so and made straight for the spot where the swimmer had been seen. When the boat neared him Webster turned for the shore, and getting a shoot on a good breaker reached the shore" before the boat .which was pursuing him. Webster was invited to the club house, and when he was asked for an explanation of his conduct he replied: “ Who owns the Tasman, anyway? ” It was explained to him that he could have the Tasman if he‘ had anywhere- he could keep it. . That was not the point at issue. They tried to impress upon him -that several' life-savers had risked their lives trying to rescue him. Then he appeared to be rather sorry for the episode, and he was advised by the police not to attempt it again. 11 1 spend a good deal of my time'in the surf,” Webster explained to a reporter. “In New Zealand there are no regulations, and a man can swim when nwd where be likes. Naturally I thought that I could do the same here. I just hopped in and went beyond the breakers for a swim. I anl sorry I caused all the trouble. I am going home next month for more swimming races.”