Drowning Averted By Smart Rescue

Chronicle (Levin), 3 September 1949, Page 7

Drowning Averted By Smart Rescue

Press Association)

- (Per

HAMILTON, Sept. 2. The highly commendable and prompt action of a youth and a .man in diving fully clothed into Hamilton' Lake yesterday afternoon, prevented a double drowning tragedy when two yonng girls were in difhculties in the water. Apparently the two girls, Bonny Holm, aged eight, and Valerie Ross, aged five, were visiting the lake when the younger child, who was on the end of the jetty, fell into deep water. Her older copipanion immediately attempted to reach the struggling cliild by lying on the jetty and feeling in the water, but she also fell in. Shouts for lielp f'rom the girls in the water and the screams of two other children in'the vicinity, attracted . the attention of Brian Waterson, aged 18, of Port Waikato, who was staying .in Hamilton. Brian was about 200 yards from the jetty walking toward the miniature golf links. Altliough he liad not boen ljOng out of bed after suli'eying from iiifluenza, he ran to the jetty and dived in fully clothed. He was able to pull the younger child, who was at this time under the water, to the surfaee. He I was by then exhausted and cal-led for assistance. Foftunately his shouts were heard by a visitor to the city, Mr. Stanley Harris, of Hastings, who immediately dived into the water, pulled the young child out and then assisted Brian from the water. While he was in the water, Bonny Holm was able to clutch hkn by the neck and she also was liftod from the water. All quiekly recovered from the cold water.