PRECARIOUS PLIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23332, 26 October 1937, Page 10

PRECARIOUS PLIGHT

SURF BOAT OVERTURNS NARROW, ESCAPE OF FIVE MEN NEARLY AN HOUR IN" WATER (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Oct. 25. Clinging to an overturned surf boat until its steady drift with the strong tidal set compelled them to swim to a cleft in the rocks, five members of the Piha Surf Life Saving Club were placed in a precarious plight this afternoon. Except for a few minor abrasions suffered when they were buffeted against the rocks, they escaped unhurt after spending nearly an hour in the water. With the well-known Auckland representative Rugby forward T. H, Pearce as captain, the boat was manned by a crew of five. A heavy sea was running, and after undertaking training beyond the surf line about half a mile from the beach it was decided to return inshore Shortly after entering the breakers, however, the craft overturned, and the crew was flung into the water. With the tide running out strongly, the boat was drawn towards Lion Rock and soon reached a position which made attempts to carry out a line by means of a beltman and then by surf skis unavailing. When about 25 yards off the rocks the men elected to abandon the boat, and after receiving a severe buffeting in the heavy surf they succeeded in reaching a safe cleft. One man, J. Oxspring, suffered slight lacerations to one hand when he was caught under the kelp. Strenuous efforts were made to recover the boat. It was not, however, until the craft had moved under the influence of the cross currents to the southern end of the beach that Pearce and C. J. Sidford succeeded in swimming out with a line. The boat was hauled in undamaged.