RESCUE FROM DROWNING

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1933, Page 6

RESCUE FROM DROWNING

MANGAMINGI LAD’S ESCAPE.

COMMENDABLE RESCUE EFFORTS.

A drowning accident almost occurred in the Patea River on Friday, when the Mangamingi school picnic was being held. After the various races had been held and while the men-folk were engaged, in a cricket match one of the senior pupils, ■Moss Pennington, got into grave difficulties in the river.

It appears that some of the children, were in the river above some rapids and were playing with an inflated tyre tube. The tube was caught by the rapids and the boy going after it was very quickly washed down in to deep water and was immediately in trouble. With commendable pluck and promptness Mrs. H. Chisnall, who had been swimming and was then on the bank, rushed in and succeeded in getting hold of the boy. While she was trying to work him out of the river he began to struggle, and although Mrs. Chisnail is a strong swimmer, what with the strong current and the frantic struggles she became exhausted, lost her clutch of the boy and was only able to struggle out herself. In the meantime the alarm was given and the men who were a good 400 -yards away rushed to the scene. Messrs. P. Hickey and H. Pearce very quickly arrived and going in fully clothed succeeded in reaching the boy, and with diffi* culty brought him to shore. The boy was on the verge of unconsciousness, but soon recoved on first aid being applied, and was taken home to bed. Except for severe shock the patient, who was immediately attended by a doctor who was visiting a patient in the district, is little the worse for his trying ordeal. Too much cannot be said of Mrs. Chisnall’s brave action, for but for her efforts it would have been almost impossible to have saved the lad. The same applies to Messrs. Hickey and Pearce for they were terribly • handicapped by their fast run and having to enter the water fully clothed.