FISHERMAN’S ORDEAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 280, 26 November 1931, Page 11

FISHERMAN’S ORDEAL

MAROONED ON ROCKS NIGHT OUT IN A STORM RESCUED AFTER 33 HOURS. BLENHEIM, Nov. 23. A terrible ordeal awaited Mr. Charles Cederholm, a middle-aged fisherman, of Flaxbourne, when ho set out in a flatbottomed boat on Saturday at about noon to fish from tho Chancct Rocks, near the mouth of the Fiaxbournc River. Conditions were ideal when ho left tho shore, but toward evening a southerly storm swept up tho coast, sank the fisherman’s tiny craft and left him marooned on the rocks 300 yards from tho beach. It was not until three o’clock this morning that Air Cederholm was rescued, but fortunately he does not appear to have suffered seriously from his trying ordeal and long exposure to the elements. Air. Cederholm lives in a tent on the beach near the mouth of the Flaxbourne River and spends his time either fishing from the rocks cr from his flatbottomed boat, at a short distance from tho shore. On Saturday he decided to try his luck near the Chancct Rocks. Seas Swamp Boat. Late in the afternoon ho suddenly noticed tho tell-tale symptoms of an impending southerly and prepared to make tho shore. However, as southerlies do, the storm blew up very quickly and the small boat could not survive the rising seas. At about six o’clock the boat swamped and sank, taking the fishing tackle with it, and Mr.

Cederholm hail to scramble on to the rocks. All through the night he was drenched by heavy rain and spray from the breakers, while the keen wind chilled him to the bone. By yesterday morning tho conditions had moderated and the stranded fisherman eagerly scanned the beach for signs of life. It was not until yesterday afternoon that the man’s plight was discovered by a party from Scddon, comprising Alcssrs, Clemett, W. Crafar, Wright and Rogers, whose attention he attracted by waving an improvised flag, formed by part of his clothing. Whaling Launch Despatched. The men, realising that nothing could be done without a boat, made all haste to Air. Alex Thomson's homestead, where they heard that there was no boat in the vicinity. Air. Thomson had tho telephone exchange opened and communicated with the police. After the situation had been explained to Sergeant Petersen at Blenheim, the harbourmaster at Wairau Bar, Captain Nelson, was asked to arrange for a launch to proceed to the scene. Captain Nelson communicated with Porano’s whaling station at Te Awaiti and a fast launch left Tory Channel almost immediately. It was at three o’clock this morning, 33 hours after he had been marooned, that Air. Cederholm was rescued. Throughout tho night a band of settlers kept vigil on the beach. They signalled with flares to the man on the distant rock ;.nd kept a roaring fire going as a signal to tho expected rescuers. Tho launch finally arrived and a difficult feat was performed in taking the exhausted man off the rocks. After further manoeuvring Mr Cederholm was put ashore and taken from the Chancct Rocks to the Chancct homestead, Air. Thomson’s home, where ho was revived with warm food and

clothing and a fire. A hardy specimen of manhood, Mr. Cederholm had suffered little from his trying experience and was able to proceed to his camp after an hour or so. All the settlers in the vicinity pay a tribute to the ability and daring of the crew of the rescuing launch.