FIGHT WITH A SHARK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 12

FIGHT WITH A SHARK

F isherman’s Brave Deed

Mr Noel H. Kinch told an exciting story in a 8.8. C. wireless talk recently. In August, 1936. he was serving in i steam trawler which was fishing oil the coast of Iceland, and during some work on deck the bo-sun was caught Dy a wire and icll overboard. Someone called to Kinch, “Go on, Curly, 1 know you can save him’ , and when two other men had helped him out of his oilskins and sea-boots he dived overboard into the ice-cold sea. After swimming for about 230 yards he saw Bond (the bo’sun), but on reaching him he found that there was blood all around. “Look out for that swimming over theie,’’ said Bond, and when Kinch asked what it was, Bond replied that it was a shark, which had just bitten him in the arm. Kinch thought that this was impossible, but a few moments later, while he was trying to take Bond back to the ship, he felt something get hold of him arm. Then he knew that Bond was right, and he asked the bo-sun to keep afloat for

a time while be scrolled with the shark. Alter this, Kincli got hold of Bond again and started to make lor the ship, but when he had swum ten yards he found that the shark was pursuing them. Letting go of Bond once more,' Kinch struck the shark on the underneath part of his body, where he knew that it was tender, and tried to dive’ clear; as he did so he felt something catch his back, but he was able to escape, find Bond again, and return to the ship. When at last they were dragged on board, Kinch asked the skipper how long lie bad been overboard. The answer was that he had been in the sea for 40 minutes, and that be had swum about half-a-mile 1 Although Mr Kinch told bis story with the modesty that we have come to expect from brave men, no ne will bo surprised to learn that he was awarded 1 the Stanhope Gold Medal for the bravest deed of 1936. He certainly deserved it.