SAVED TWO LIVES

Waikato Times, Volume 196, Issue 22548, 5 January 1945, Page 2

SAVED TWO LIVES

OFFICER ON LEAVE WELLINGTON, Friday A drowning tragedy was narrowly averted at Waikawa Beach, Manakau, on Boxing Day. Two women, a man and a boy of 13 were fishing with a net and were carried out of their depth by an exceptionally strong riptide. They were on the seaward end of the qet and the heavy sea wrenched the net from the grasp of two men at the short end, carrying it out to sea and adding to the difficulties of the other four. The man assisted one of the women, his daughter, to the shore, but the other woman and the boy were still in difficulty. Their plight was noticed by Captain J. D. K. Logan, on leave on furlough from the Middle East, who happened to be on the shore nearby. He assisted the woman to safety, but in the meantime the boy, who had been swimming strongly till the rip caught him, was in difficulties and apparently drowning. Captain Logan, who has won many swimming events in New Zealand and also in South Africa, quickly made his way to the lad, dived underneath him and brought him safely to the shore. Captain Logan’s prompt action was undoubtedly responsible for the saving of two lives Captain Logan escaped from a prison camp during the South African campaign and trudged 200 miles barefooted to regain his base.