FOUR PICKED UP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20111, 4 December 1939, Page 6

FOUR PICKED UP

CAPSIZE OF YACHT RESCUE IN HARBOUR FERRY STEAMER’S AID PRAISE FOR CAPTAIN (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. After a struggle lasting for an hour and a half to keep afloat four persons who were thrown into the water when the idle along yacht Aloha capsized in a squall were rescued by the Eastbourne Borough Council’s ferry steamer Muritai yesterday afternoon. One of the crew, G. Robertson, a labourer, of 12 Milton street, was suffering from shock and another, W. Lamont, a clerk, of the same address, was suffering slightly from shock. The other members of the crew, Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger were not hurt.

It is understood that the Aloha capsized about midday, appi'oximately two miles off Day’s Bay. The master of the Muritai, Captain J. Herd, was told of the accident shortly before the steamer was due to leave Day’s Bay for Wellington at 1.20 p.m.

As soon as possible Captain Herd set out to attempt to rescue the crew and he sighted the capsized boat after about 10 minutes. A strong northwest wind had raised a choppy sea and waves were breaking over the craft to which Mr. Ballinger and Mr. Lamont were clinging.

Boats Almost Touching

Captain Herd took the, Muritai into the wind and then steamed slowly down to the Aloha till the two boats were almost touching. A line was then thrown from the Muritai to the yacht and the men were pulled up till a fireman and deckhand, standing on the belting running round the steamer, were able to assist them aboard. The rescued men said that there were still others to be rescued and Mr. Robertson was found about 500 yards nearer the shore.

Mrs. Ballinger, who was swimming strongly, was rescued another 500yds. away, only half a mile from the Rona Bay wharf. Mr. Robertson, who was very exhausted, was placed on top of the Muritai’s boiler on the journey to town and he and Mr. Lamont were taken to the hospital by the free ambulance when the steamer berthed in Wellington. They were later discharged. The Aloha was towed ashore at Muritai later in the afternoon. Passengers in the Muritai praised the handling of the Muritai by Captain Herd. They said that the strong wind and choppy sea made the work of rescue difficult.