A NARROW ESCAPE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1920, Page 1

A NARROW ESCAPE

SENSA r ri6k AT NEW BRIGHTON.

HANDCUFFED iIAN’S MAP FROM PIER.

Projnpt assistance by members of the New Brighton Surf Bathing ond Life Saving Club on Christmas Day averted an almost certain drowning fatality, Mr L. Levante, of the Levantc-Keech Company, being in grave difficulties after his sensational act of diving from the end of the pier when chained and manacled, 'flic tide was full in at the time, and the strong nor’-wester which had blown earlier in tile day and caused a dangerous “set” through the pieir. . Levante, who was unaware of this fact, dived from the north side of the pier, which made his position the more precarious as the tide bore him with irresistible force against the barnacle covered piles. The pier itself proved quite insufficient to hold the great crowd which assembled to witness Levante’s feat, and many thousands took advantage of the beach in order to view the event.

j ‘ Levante appeared in a bathing suit j and leg irons were locked around Ill’s I' legs, a chain bolted round his neck', and this was attached to his hands, which were handcuffed behind his back with a pair of police “darbies.” After .being examined to the satisfaction of a committee present, Levante, standing erect, jumped into the sea. from a height of thirty feet. For thirty or more seconds there was a dead silence, then the cry went up, “There he is 1” as lie appeared freed from all restraint. After tying a rope around the manacles so that they could be tested by the committee, lie commenced to swim for® the shore, but not knowing the state of the undertow, and being in a semi-exhausted condition from his re cent effort, be was soon in difficulties. iFfJrtuinately, members of the New

Brighton Surf Club were in attendance, and Messrs C. T. Cooper and F. Stokes • promptly went to the swimmer’s aid. , But for their timely assistance things might have assumed a serious aspect, j Levante after being severely buffeted j against the piles, was brought ashore, J much to tho relief of a vast crowd of onlookers. Beyond a few cuts on the arms and legs he was little the worse I for his trying and thrilling experience. I This is the second occasion on which Levante has been in a similar predicament. In New South Wales, when performing, a similar feat, he became entangled in a “snag” under the water, and was only rescued after considerable difficulty.