NEARLY DROWNED

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1927, Page 4

NEARLY DROWNED

TWENTY GIRLS IN UNDERTOW [llY TELEGRAPH PEll PRESS ASSOCIATION.] A ECKLAND, March 7. A party of about twenty girls from the Takapuna School had a narrow escape from drowning at takapuna beach this afternoon. While a swimming test was being conducted they were suddenly swept out towards the channel by an undertow, and but for the prompt action■ of the headmaster, G. H. Matthews, who went to their assistance in a dinghy, many might have lost their lives.

The girls were ;ill good swimmers, and although the tost of the swimming was one hundred yards, it was not considered severe. Precautions were taken to guard against any unforseen happening. About a dozen hoys, all good swimmers, were in the water and the girls had to swim one hundred yards between a line of boys and the beach. Hr Matthews was on the shore with the dinghy ready manned in case of danger which came suddenly and unexpectedly. The hoys waded out beyond the line of breakers to their allotted position and had been standing still for a few minutes when several found they had lost their footing and were being swept out to sea. The girls, closer in shore, had also been seized by tire undertow and slowly they were being carried further away from shore, and those on the beach at once realised the gravity of the situation. Mr Matthews jumped into the waiting boat and rowed to the rescue. There was another boat on the beach and this was manned by Mr Laws, one of the teac-hers and two hoys. .Mister Howden and George Martin. The boys reached the struggling girls and helped them to withstand tire current until swell time as the boats arrived to lnuir the young swimmers ashore,