IN GRIP OF OCTUPUS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 31 December 1927, Page 5

IN GRIP OF OCTUPUS.

GIRL’S TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Friday. Attacked by an octopus at Stanley Bay, Kathleen Cosgrove, aged 14, was dragged under water in the grip of the monster's tentacles. She was saved from a horrible fate only by the prompt action of her brother, Mr Pat Cosgrove, who dashed to her assistance. Both bear nasty marks of the suckers which clung to their legs. In the middle of the afternoon, when the tide was fast receding, and fairly low, the girl and her elder brother went for a swim at the beach near the pier. As the water was shallow they had to wade out a long way before finding sufficient depth in which to swim. The girl was playing about near some piles when she trod on something which she at first thought was the branch of a tree, but which she soon discovered to be something more animate. The unseen thing curled about her legs, upset her balance in the water, and hung on. Miss Cosgrove called to her brother, who was swimming in the vicinity. Just as he reached the spot the octopus draged the girl under the wilt or, at the same time issuing the inky black fluid which octopi emit to embarrass and blind their victims. Simultaneously another and larger tentacle came nut of the water and curled about Mr Cosgiave’s leg above the knee. The young man grasped the deadly arm and tore it from his leg, and pulled vigorously at. his sister in an endeavour to free her from the menacing tentacles. In the comparatively shallow water in which the struggle took place the octopus was eventually driven off. Mr Cosgrove was too concerned about the rescue of his sister, and the girl was too upset, to attempt to capture it till it was too late. When they emerged from the water both Mr Cosgrove and his sister were swollen and bleeding about the legs, the marks on the girl looking, particularly angry.