Man Rescued From River

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30978, 7 February 1966, Page 14

Man Rescued From River

(New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, February 6. A young married man, battered and unconscious after an unsuccessful attempt to prevent his wife being swept over the spillway of the Pareora river dam, was saved from drowning yesterday afternoon only by the quick action of a bystander.

David William Kadle was walking along the top of the dam while his wife Janet swam beside him. Mrs Kadle emerged from the water close to the dam spillway, but lost her footing on the greasy concrete surface and tumbled into the spillway. Mr Kadle made a grab to save her going over the 20foot drop into the river and managed to grasp her by a leg before he also lost his balance and was swept over. Their fall was seen by Bevan King, of Timaru, who was sitting on a rock at the base of the dam. He immediately dived in

and swam against a strong current to Mrs Kadle, but she was able to assist herself out of the water.

There was no sign of Mr Kadle until Mr King spotted his hair above the surface of the river about seven yards downstream.

Mr Kadle, who was injured about the head, was floating face down and unconscious when Mr King reached him. Mr King called to a companion, Kelly Briggs, of Greymouth, for aid and between them the men brought Mr Kadle to the bank, and drove him to the Timaru Hospital. His condition tonight was reported to be satisfactory.