A THRILING RESCUE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1928, Page 4

A THRILING RESCUE

OCTOPUS SEIZES GIRL BATHER. BROTHER'S TIMELY ASSISTANCE. AUCKLAND. Dec. 3(1. Attacked by an octopus at Stanley Bay. Kathleen Cosgrove, aged 11. was dragged under water in the grip ol the monster's tentacles. Hie wa = saved from a horrible late only by the prompt actinn of her brother, Mr Pat. Cosgrove, who dashed to her assistance. Both hear nasty marks ol the sinkers, which clung to their legs. In the middle cl the afternoon when the tide was last receding and lairly low. the girl and her elder brother went for a swim at the beach, near the pier. As the water was shallow they had to wade out a long way before finding sullirienl depth in which to swim. The girl was playing about near some piles when she trod on something which she at first thought was a branch ol a tree, hut which she soon to he something more animate. The unseen tiling curled about her legs, upset her balance in the water, and hung on.

Mis.s Cosgrove called to her brother, who was swimming in the vicinity .Just as lie reached the spot, the octopus dragged the girl under the water, at the same time issuing the inky black fluid which octopi emit to embarrass and blind their victims. Simultaneously another and larger tentacle came out of the water and eurled about Mr Cosgrove’s leg above the knee. The young man grasped the deadly arm and tore it from his leg, and pulled vigorously at his sister in an endeavour to free her from the menacing tentacles.

In the comparatively shallow water in which the struggle took place, the octopus was eventually driven off. Mr Cosgrove was too concerned about the rescue of his sister, and the little girl was too upset, too attempt to capture it till it was too late. When they emerged from the water both Mr Cosgrove and his sister were swollen and bleeding about the legs, tile marks on the girl looking particularly angry. Home remedies and disinfectants were applied, and hut for the shock and memory of it, neither of the young people has suffered greatly hy their unenviable experience.