SAVED FROM DROWNING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 193, 15 August 1931, Page 17

SAVED FROM DROWNING.

Accident at Governor’s Bay Jetty. CARRIED OUT BY TIDE. A rescue from drowning was effected at Governor’s Bay last evening, when Mr J. Manhire was saved by Mr G. Healey, after he had been carried by the current to a distance of about seventy-five yards from the end of the jetty. Both men were residents of Governor’s Bay, and, with Mr D. H. Manhire, of Christchurch, a brother of the rescued man, went down to the jetty to catch fish. Mr J. Manhire was in the lead, carrying a lantern, and started to go down the steps to attach it near the surface of the sea to attract the fish. The fifth step was missing and Mr Manhire dropped through into the sea. He was considerably hampered by a heavy overcoat, but was able to continue pushing himself up to the surface about twenty yards from the jetty, where the water was only a short depth over his head. He managed to extricate himself from his overcoat, but found that he was rapidly being carried out of his depth by the retreating tide, and called for assistance. Mr Healey threw the lifebuoy, attached to tjie jetty, to Mr Manhire, but it failed to reach him and Mr Manhire’s efforts to gain it were fruitless. Usually a good swimmer, Mr Manhire was now feeling the effects of his struggle to discard his coat, and, numbed by the cold, disappeared from view. He reappeared still further out, and again called for help. Discarding his clothes, Mr Healey plunged into the icy cold water and swam to the distressed man with a rope and lifebuoy. He reached Mr Manhire after a long struggle, the latter being in bad condition. The two men were pulled back to the jetty by Mr D. H. Manhire. The rescued man was exhausted and numb with the cold, but was reported to be much improved to-day. Mr Healey was also suffering from the cold when he reached the shore.