COURAGEOUS MATE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17125, 4 December 1929, Page 5

COURAGEOUS MATE

FITS RUDDER TO SHIP RISK OF SHARK ATTACKS SYDNEY, Nov. 18. For three hours Mr. R. Bridge, second mate of the trawler Durenbee, worked under tho stern, an easy victim to any shark that might attack him, after the vessel had broken her rudder post and was drifting helplessly off N'orah Head on Friday. As a result of the courageous conduct of Mr. Bridge, who volunteered tor the work, Captain Mills and the other members of the crew were able to lit a jury rudder and bring the Durenbee back to Sydney under her own steam. The trawler arrived at the. depot ot the Red Funnel fleet in Woolloomooloo Bay early on Saturday morning. The company was advised by wireless, of tho predicament of the trawler, and the Hurra ween, another unit of the fleet, was sent to her assistance, but the help was not needed.

As the Durenbee rose and fell with the swell of the ocean, Mr. Bridge was carried under the. water. Tho work was so exhausting that he had to return to tho ship’s deck on three occasions tor a respite. As a result of his experiences he was considerably bruised.

“It was the gamest thing any man in tho fishing business could do,” said a member of tho crew yesterday. “At the present time there are more sharks than flathead off tho coast... The Durenbee had been fortunate in making a catch of fish, and we all knew that there must have been sharks about, as they follow the ship.”