FOUR MEN THROWN INTO RIVER

Stratford Evening Post, Volume III, Issue 349, 2 May 1935, Page 5

FOUR MEN THROWN INTO RIVER

CAPSIZE OF SMALL DINGHY HARD STRUGGLE !N SWIFT CURRENT. Press Association —Copyright Auckland, May 1. Narrow escapes from drowning after .their boat had been swamped were experienced by four Pukekohe sportsmen, Messrs. J. McComb, G. Davoren, L. Parris and E. Reynolds, when'crossing the Waikato River to construct mai-mais in readiness for the opening of the shooting season to-day. The party went on a motor-lorry from Pukekohe to a point on the river above Tuakau bridge, taking with them a small dinghy. When well out from the shore in the dinghy they were caught by a swift current, and the water started to lap into the boat.. Realising that it would swamp, Mr McComb called to his companions to take off their coats in readiness to swim, Mr. Davoren, was the only one who had not quite got his coat off when all four w r cre thrown into the water owing to their small craft completely sw r amping.

They stuck out for the river bank, several chains away. Mr_ Parris helped Mr. Davoren to finally divest himself of his coat, but the latter had partly exhausted himself by hb efforts.

The men found that with the remaining clothing progress was difficult. They had been carried about

a quarter of a mile downstream by the current when finally Messrs. MeComb Parris and Reynolds reached some willows. Mr. McCombsi just had strength enough, left to grasp a willow branch, and he was later assisted to the bank. Looking round for JMcjf' Davor'en, Messrs. Reynolds and Parris saw him being carried on by the current, apparently unable to make any further progress towards the bank. They swam to his assistance, and Reynolds managed to reach him after he had disappeared once, and with Mr. Parris’s help brought him to the hank. He had lost consciousness and his companions tried artificial resporation. The proved successful, and he recovered.