TICHE'S LUCK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16499, 4 August 1924, Page 8

TICHE'S LUCK.

DIVED FROM BURNING LAUNCH

SYPNEY, July I<B.—Herbert' Tighe, of Carrington road, Hand wick, takes first prize as the luckiest man in New South Wales. He dived overboard from u burning launch, two miles from the coast on Tuesday afternoon, and is alive to toll the tqle.

Tighe had been at,Bo tuny bay for the week-end, and decided to make for Sydney Heads on Tuesday, despite the fact that, engine trouble bad developed, and he had to make the passage out with the aid of two safls. He' set- the helm for Sydney, and began Worjc on the engine at 1.30 p.m. i\ir hour later lie was atiJJ at work, and the launch was two miles from land, opposite Sublime Point, Maroubra, and about two miles from. Sydney Heads. At that time lie had adjusted some small defect, and gave the engine a turn. All that resulted was a backfire, and almost immediately'a sheet, of flame came from tile engine. Tighe was temporarily blinded by the flash, and before he had recovered the flame caught the wooden fixtures and soon enveloped the forward end of the small' craft.

Tighe made strenuous efforts to combat. the flames, but the inflammable nature of the contents of the launch proved excellent fuel, and soon his life wgs threatened. It become so bad that lie was forced to dive overboard or be burnt to death. !

He had no time to removed his coat and vest on hoard, and lie had a struggle to tj,o so in the water. Swimming along for ten rpinntes, lip had made little headway towards the shore, and was wellnigh exhausted, when Messrs Chapman and Wagner, fishermen, were attracted bv the .burning launch. They made in tile direction of the launch, and, fortunately, sighted Tighe on the way. He was at liis last gasp when they reached him and pulled him aboard.

They picked up his coat and vest, and after making sure that they could do nothing to extinguish, the fire on the launch, they ro\ve<| him into Coogee, "here he was landed little the worse for his experience. Another fisherman rescued the dinghy tied behind the launch, taking (he risk of an explosion of benzine while he cut it adrift.