PLIGHT OF FISHERMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22025, 7 August 1933, Page 8

PLIGHT OF FISHERMEN

DINGHY CAPSIZES NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, August 6. Three fishermen had a narrow escape from drowning when their dinghy struck a rock and capsized at Wellington Heads this afternoon. One member of the party clung to the overturned boat and was washed on to the rocks, where he righted the dinghy and returned to rescue his companions, who were standing on a submerged rock. The men were Walter Myers, of Miramar, the owner of the launch Karaka, Alexander Campbell, and Alexander Ayers. The party left in the launch for Pencarrow, and the three men were in the dinghy setting a net, having anchored the launch. While they were thus engaged the dinghy struck a rock, capsized, and threw them into the water. Mr Myers clung to the dinghy, and the other two managed to climb on to the rock, and stood there, almost to their waists in the ice-cold water. Both men were almost washed off their precarious foothold. Mr R. S. Wilson, the keeper at the Pencarrow lighthouse, was showing a party _ over the lighthouse when he saw the dinghy and the man clinging to it, and also noticed the two men who were standing on the rock about 50 yards from the shore. He immediately sent his visitors for help and telephoned the police at Eastbourne before dashing down to the beach himself. The constable at Eastbourne communicated with Mr Antonio Delabarta, who set out for Pencarrow in his launch.

In the meantime Mr Jack Ayers, another member of the fishing party, who had been on shore when the accident occurred, stripped and set out for the launch, which he reached, but he was unable to start the engine. The dinghy, with Mr Alexander Ayers (a brother of Mr Jack Ayers) still clinging to it, had by this time been washed ashore. One of the paddles had also reached the shore, and with this Mr Myers paddled out to the rock and rescued hi 8 companions. It was a rather difficult task to get the men into the boat, as they were so deeply in the water, but this was successfully accomplished, and the dinghy’s party landed safely, all very cold. Mr Delabarta brought ashore Mr Jack Ayera from the launch.