“JUST FOR FUN.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20221, 3 February 1934, Page 31 (Supplement)

“JUST FOR FUN.”

YOUNG AMERICAN’S LEAP FROM BRIDGE. A young man in evening clothes got out of a taxi on Lambeth Bridge, London, just after 7 a.m. recently, took off his coat, trousers and waistcoat, and dived from the parapet of the bridge into the Thames. After a struggle in which he nearly lost his life he reached the shore with the aid of a constable, and said that he did it “just for fun.” The young man is an American, Mr. Donald Angus. 25, of Elvaston Place, South Kensington. He was taken to hospital, given a hot bath, and put to bed. In the afternoon lie was able to go home. He explained that lie had been to a dance and was returning in a taxi with a woman and man friend. “As we were crossing the bridge I mentioned that I would not mind a swim. I was dared to jump off Lambeth Bridge, so the taxicab was stopped and I went to the highest part- in the middle because I thought the water would be deepest underneath. The water was icy and I swam to the side as quickly as I could. I staggered along in the mud. There were pieces of ice floating about, and at times I was up to my waist in mud. falling down several times. My hands are still numbed and I have a cold on my chest.” Mr. Angus added that he would not do it again after this experience. He left Honolulu four years ago. “We often jump into the water from ships nearly as high as the bridge when we are swimming there,” he said.