BATHERS' NARROW ESCAPE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19824, 29 December 1938, Page 6

BATHERS' NARROW ESCAPE

THREE IN DIFFICULTIES INCIDENT AT BRIGHTON (Por Pross Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. Three bathers at Brighton Beach had a narrow escape from drowning or serious injury on Tuesday afternoon when they got into difficulties near a small island not far from the shore. The beach was thronged with people enjoying the pleasant weather, and the incident was followed tensely by the crowds -on the beach. It appears that a man and -his two daughters were swimming in not very deep water near the small island when suddenly the father was seen to disappear in a deep hole. >He reappeared a moment later but was prevented by the strong breakers and the set of the current toward the rocky island from swimming to safety. Instead he found himself steadily drifting toward the rocks. Noticing their father’s plight, the girls called for help and went to his assistance, but straightaway got into difficulties themselves. One o,f them became entangled in a mass of floating kelp, but was rescued from this unpleasant predicament by her father, who had succeeded in gaining a fooi-hol-d on the island, though he had. received rather painful bruises -and abrasions from, being tossed against jagged rocks. The other girl was rescued by some young men who had hastened to the scene. -She was quickly taken ashore -and was soon restored tc -consciousness. The whole incident occupied little more than five minutes, but it caused something of a -sensation among those present at the beach. Except for shock -and minor bruises and abrasions, the ithrqe bathers were little the worse for their unenviable experience.