Bravery Awards For Boys’ Rescue

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 1

Bravery Awards For Boys’ Rescue

The Royal Humane Society yesterday announced awards to two Dunedin men who took part in the rescue of two boys in difficulties at the Karitane Beach Domain near the mouth of the Waikouaiti river, last December. A third boy was drowned.

Mr L. D. Smith of 43 Peter street, Dunedin, was awarded the society’s bronze medal, and Mr R. H. J. Burns of 23 Stenhope crescent, Dunedin, will receive the society’s certificate of merit. The society’s citation says that on December 13, 1965, Mr Smith, aged 50, a teacher at Ravensbourne School, took a party of school children by bus to the Karitane Beach Domain.

"Three boys got into difficulties in a large hole, known as the King hole, which was approximately 15 feet deep. Mr Smith managed to rescue two of the boys, aged 11 and 12. In attempting to rescue the third boy, Kevin Morrison, aged 12, Mr Smith was swept round the edge of the hole towards some rocks and lost consciousness. "Mr Burns, the driver of the bus, noticed Mr Smith lying in the water. He took off some clothes and, entering the water, he managed to reach Mr Smith and applied mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while getting him to the shore. Mr Smith was admitted to Dunedin Hospital suffering from shock and exhaustion. “Kevin Morrison was drowned, and, but for Mr Smith’s brave action, two other boys may have suffered the same fate. Mr Burns, a poor swim-

mer. showed great courage in rescuing Mr Smith from such a dangerous area of water,” the citation says.