Fisherman Found Alive On Island

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 1

Fisherman Found Alive On Island

f.Vcu? Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, January 17. A 16-year-old youth who fell overboard from a fishing boat on Saturday was found by a search party shortly after noon today on Codfish Island off the coast of Stewart Island.

The youth, Edward Lawrence Edwards, told his rescuers he did not think he could have lasted another day if help had not arrived.

When found, Edwards was naked and had wrapped seaweed around himself to try to keep warm. He was uninjured apart from some scratches and a bruised arm. Searchers had not had much hope of finding Edwards alive. Their only reason for optimism had been the young fisherman's known ability as a swimmer. Edwards was brought back to Bluff tonight aboard the fishing boat that found him. He was knocked from the fishing boat Four Winds on Saturday by a boom used for lifting crayfish pots. He had taken the wheel of the craft while the owner went below to rest. Mr Squires awakened about noon to find the boat on some rocks. He could not find Edwards. Mr Squires found part of Edwards's clothing on the steel boom. It is believed the ropes tying the boom to the mast came undone and the boom fell.

i Fishing boats and Southland Aero Club planes had (made extensive searches in ■ the area on Saturday afternoon, and yesterday and I ground parties were put (ashore on Stewart Island this ! morning. I “I might not have lasted another day,” Edwards said (at his parents’ home in Bluff (tonight. He had to swim threequarters of a mile to Codi ■ fish Island, w’here he spent three days without clothes, : ; food or shelter. TOOK OFF CLOTHES ■ 1 "The boom on the boat I knocked me overboard before I realised what had happened," Edwards said. “By the time I had surfaced I was too far away for my voice to be heard, so 1 took my clothes off, because ' I was finding it difficult to I keep afloat, and headed in the (direction of Codfish Island. I "I saw the Four Winds ' ( searching for me, but I was i too far away to be heard. ; I When I reached the island :! the breakers took me and 1 i [ was dashed on to the rocks. ‘where I lost consciousness.

“When I awoke it must (have been about five o’clock. It was getting dark, so 1 wrapped myself in a ball of kelp to keep warm,” he said. | “It was all right, for it did the job. but 1 had to put up with the lice. The second day I erected a crude shelter from brush, but it didn't do much to keep out the cold. “1 didn’t do much except rest and try to sleep, but even this was difficult. I kept getting weaker.

“When 1 saw a boat or an aircraft —one passed right over me—l screamed and waved, but it was useless,” he said.

“In the end 1 just lay there, waiting and hoping,” Edwards said

He said he jumped for joy when Messrs J. Mullens and D. Carter, on the crayfishing boat Belle, sighted him about 3 p.m. today. He was almost speechless when his uncle, Mr R. Christiansen, rowed ashore in a dinghy to pick him up. Once aboard, his first requirements were a bowl of hot soup and a set of clothes. He was then taken back to Bluff and as soon as the Belle berthed at 7.15 p.m. he was rushed to his home in Marine parade, where he had a bath.

Then he was ready to meet the crowd of relatives and well wishers '"ho had gathered.