EXCITING RESCUE

Southland Times, Issue 21716, 31 May 1932, Page 5

EXCITING RESCUE

STRANDED AIRMEN LANDING ON ISOLATED SANDBANK PLANE SET ON FIRE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, May 28. Two airmen, of whom one, Captain Scott, is secretary of the Skegness Aero Club and a former competitor in the King’s Cup race, were Rescued under dramatic circumstances yesterday from an isolated sandbank in The Wash upon which they were stranded. They made a forced landing owing to engine trouble and being unable to re-start the machine endeavoured to attract attention. Failing in this they stripped and attempted to swim the five miles to shore, but were beaten back by the strong currents. ■ The rising tide had washed away their plane when they returned to the sandbank, and they had no matches with which to light flares. They attempted to ignite two petrol-soaked mats by means of the suns rays through the lens of a powerful camera, but were unsuccessful. As a last expedient one airman swung the propeller while the other held the rnats near the magneto and after an “Our and a-half’s effort, when the tide had reached the top of the sandbank, the spark set the mats alight.. The bodywork was next set on fire ana the blaze attracted the attention of the skipper and crew of a motor trader, who were able to rescue the naked airmen.