NIGHT SPENT ON ROCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21362, 16 June 1931, Page 9

NIGHT SPENT ON ROCK

PROTRACTED RESCUE EFFORTS An unpleasant -experience. (Peb United Chess Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 15. On Sunday afternoon two climbers— Dennis Hastings Budd, of New Plymouth, and John Pitzgibbon, aged 22, of Waitara. whose parents live in Wellington—both clerks in the Bank of New Zealand, were caught 200 feet up on the seaward side of Paritutu, a 500 ft rock at the base of the breakwater. They were unable to advance or retire. Their signals were seen at 4.25, and attempts at rescue were made by Alpine Club members and officers and seamen of the Kini and Opihi, who ascended the rock on the landward side and endeavoured to reach the youths with a rope and bo’sun’s chair. Night came, and the rock was lighted by car lights and searchlights. All night the efforts to reach them were unsuccessful. but the rescue was accomplished at S this morning, the youths being pulled up little the worse for their experience.