MID-OCEAN RESCUE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 90, 13 October 1932, Page 18

MID-OCEAN RESCUE

MAN OVERBOARD

BOAT-DRILL MISHAP

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, 12th October. An exciting incident occurred when the Port Gisborne, which arrived from London via Panama to-da}-, was approximately half-way across the Pacific. A member of the crew Quartermaster Nicholl, accidentally fell overboard in shark-infested waters and was picked up hy a boat launched from the motor-ship. The accident occurred immediately after boat drill. All the boats had been swung in and practice was considered over when Mr. Nicholl, who with seventeen others is certificated second mate and who signed on as a member of the deck crew owing to the scarcity of bridge jobs, fell overboard. He had been standing outside the ship's rail when the; boat cover which he was endeavouring to lace up suddenly gave way. With considerable presence of mind, Mr. Nicholl violently kicked himself clear of the propellers as the hull of the vessel swept past him. The Port Gisborne was steaming at fifteen knots, and as soon as the cry "Man overboard/ reached the bridge the vessel's helm.was put quickly around. She was h'ove'-to and a. boat was man-' ned and launched. The weather was fortunately fine and moderate, with a south-east wind blowing, and in tho remarkably short space of eight minutes after Mr. Nicholl fell into tho sea ho was picked up and taken on board none the worse for his experience. :