A PLUCKY RESCUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1923, Page 2

A PLUCKY RESCUE.

SAVED FROM DROWNING. ONE-ARMED MAN DOES GOOD SERVICE. Some visitors to St. Hellyer’s creek had an exciting time on a recent Sunday afternoon. About 4 o’clock a young man, Leslie Sparnon, had a narrow escape frotn drowning while bathing in the creek near Birkdale. Sparnon, who is a powerful swimmer, crossed over the creek at its widest part, and on the return swim was seized with cramp in both legs. Cries for help were heard by several people on the shore, and one of these, Harry Carlsen, very pluckilv went to the rescue of the man in trouble, Carlsen had the misfortune to lose an arm some time ago, which renders his act all the more courageous. He swam out to Sparnon, and told him to put one hand on his shoulder, and by that means managed to bring him within about 50 yards of the shore. By that time Carlsen was getting spent, and Sparnon said: “Go on for your own life, don’t wait for me.” This was not, however, the idea of the rescuer who replied: “Give me a spell.” They soon started again, but matters would have gone hard with both of them had it not been for two other swimmers appearing on the scene. These swam across from the opposite side of the creek, and brought both men safely ashore amidst the cheers of the people who by that time, had reached the Bank. Carlsen, some time ago, brought a man ashore at Shelly Beach, and also on another occasion stopped a runaway horse. These incidents occurred since he lost his arm, a deprivation which evidently does not interfere much with his efforts in the interests of his fellow men.