BATHER IN DIFFICULTIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20875, 15 November 1929, Page 6

BATHER IN DIFFICULTIES.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.' COURAGEOUS RESCUE AT ST. CLAIR. But for the prompt and courageous action of two young men, Richard Coson, a railway employee, and Ivan Turnbull, a student, at about 4 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon, Nurse Calder, the daughter of Mr G. J. Calder, of North-East Valley, would probably have been drowned in the current off the St. Clair beach. The two young men were strolling together along the esplanade at about 4 p.m., when they saw a surf*bathcr, who~ seemed to be swimming strongly rather far out off the end of the first groin, one of the moat dangerous parts of the beach. They saw her turn on her back and float, throwing her arms up as if signalling for help. Her mother ran towards them crying out, “ She is drowning,” and both lads at once stripped, Coxon swimming out whilst Turnbull ran for the life-saving reel. Coxon reached the girl and hold her whilst waiting for the line, as he found it impossible to make any headway against the undertow. Meanwhile Turnbull and several men were experiencing difficulty in getting possession of the life line, as the reolhouae was locked, and the door hud to be broken open. Eventually the reel was secured and Turnbull swam out with the line, no easy task as the strong current hampered him considerably, the three being brought ashore again safely, .although practically exhausted. After a rest Miss Calder was able to proceed home. Although the swimming season has not yet been officially opened, numbers of bathers are already on the beach, and unless steps are taken to place the live-saving apparatus within easy reach a tragedy, such as was so narrowly averted on Wednesday, might occur. ’it might be argued that the apparatus is locked away to prevent it being tampered with by mischief-makers, but the appointment of a patrol man would circumvent this difficulty, and give added protection to bathers.