FOR BRAVERY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1929, Page 3

FOR BRAVERY

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY M EDAL.

(Bv Telegraph—Per Press Association.;

CHRISTCHURCH, April 15. At a meeting of the Court of Directors of tho Royal Humane Society of Now Zealand it was decided to award i-rn silver modal to Lewis Roderick Park, fisherman, of Ra'dan. for attempting to rescue William Henry Park, aged 58; Clarence Walter, aged 26; and Lewis Lawrence Bertling, aged 17, from drowning at Raglan bar on January 20th. 1929. Crossing the Raglan bar, a launch in which wore all of the party named, was swamped, and •sans, leaving the occupants clinging to the wreckage some distance off the land. W. H. Park was several times washed off the wreckage, hut his son, Lewis Roderick Park, succeeded in getting him back each time.. The father became exhausted and died, but the son Held him long after, until separated by a. big breaker. Park tlicn assisted Walker and hold him up till a breaker separated them, and Walker sank. Young Park made for the shore •ig"in'-t a stro"" - ebb tide. On the way lie found Bertling, who could not swim, hanging on to the wreckage, and beiti" swept ('lit to sea. Park, after a long struggle, brought Bertling to the shore, having been in the water over tw--> hours. Park was picked up on tlm leach, much exhausted, and was in a critical state for a week, requiring medical attention.