NEARLY A TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19785, 8 March 1927, Page 7

NEARLY A TRAGEDY

A STRONG UNDERTOW GIRL SWIMMERS IN DANGER. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND March 7. A party of about 20 girls from Takapuna school had a narrow escape from drowning at Takapuna beach this afternoon. While a swimming test was being conducted, they were suddenly swept out towards the channel by the undertow, and but for the prompt action of the headmaster, Mr G. H. Matthews, who went to their assistance in a dinghy, many might have lost their lives. The girls were all good swimmers, and although the test of swimming 14’0 yards was not considered severe, precautions were taken to guard against unforseen happenings. About a dozen boys, all good swimmers, were in tho water, and the girls had to swim 100 yards between a line of boys and the beach. Mr Matthews was on the shore with a dinghy, ready manned. The danger came suddenly and unexpectedly. The boys waded out beyond the line of breakers to their allotted positions and had been standing still for a few minutes whan several found they had lost their footing and were' being swept to sea. The girls, closer in shore, had also been seized by tho undertow, and slowly they were being carried further hway from the shore. Those on the beach at once realised the gravity of the situation and Mr - Matthews jumped into the waiting boat and rowed to the rescue. There was another boat on the beach and this was manned by Mr Laws, la teacher, and two boys, Alister Howden and George Martin. The boys reached the struggling girls and helped them to withstand the current until such time as th#* boats arrived.