COOK STRAIT SWIM

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 83, 6 February 1928, Page 5

COOK STRAIT SWIM

WEBSTER BEATEN BY COLD. WILL TRY AGAIN. Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, Last Night. After a plucky effort, Ronald John Webster, who essayed to swim (look Strait from Tenawhitl in the North Island to. Wellington Head in the South Island, was forced to desist on Saturday by the cold after being ■*n the water for two hours'and a quarter, and covering about, eight miles. i

Swimming a strong double overarm stroke with scissors and crawl kicks alternating, Webster made good progress from the outset through the southerly current, steadily carried him along the North Island const in the direction of Wellington. By 9.50 he was in the dreaded Terawhiti "rip," but he wag clear of it within ten minutes and at 10.1& was approximately two miles off the shore on a line drawn between- Karori Light and The Brothers. He then encountered rough water southwest of Terawhiti amd this held him up for gome time, while he was now in the full grip'of the southerly set and making little progress towards his goal. By 11.15 he was through the worst of hi s troubles and the sea was calmer while the wind appeared to be dropping, hut he reported that the water wa s colder than ever.

At 11.20 he exhibited sill's of distress and took Llio first rest, by floating since the start. The dinghy was manned and ml. !12.26 Webster was hauled aboard in a. helpless condition, blue with cold and numbed all over. However, he responded quickly to restoratives, ami was .soon completely recovered. He stated that from the outset the water was unbelievably cold, and it appeared to numb his brain. The launch reached Terawhiti at 2.30 | p.m., and those aboard were amazed when Webster peeled off and went i' l 'for a swim "just to try out his muscles." He stated that he will again attempt the swim at a more favourable opportunity.