WOMAN RESCUED

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1929, Page 2

WOMAN RESCUED

MAROONED BY RISING TIDE. AUCKLAND, Dec, 23. Drenched by flying spray a woman maintained a precarious hold on a ledge of rock at a point near Lady’s Bay for some hours yesterday before she was rescued. The woman went to the beach and decided to walk round the point. Site was fascinated byvtlie waves which the gale was hurling on the roexs and tarried to watch the spectacle. It was flood tide. Her next discovery v.as that both advance and retreat v,ere cut off. Removing her shoes and stockings she scrambled on to the ledge. As the tide-—an exceptionally big one with the full force H the wind 'behind it—rose higher, her position became precarious. The ledge was in sight of the Lady's Bay beach, but yesterday morning the little beach was quite deserted. A man. accompanied by three children went to the beach, the desire ol the latter being to see the waves breaking on the rocks. One was a little girl, who caught sight ol the woman clinging to the ledge near the far end of the beach. The latter was waving a hand to attract attention. The man made bis way along the beach, waded waist deep to the ledge, and carried the woman to the beach. She was considerably exhausted, but after a rest was able to walk home.

Although there was no great depth

of water near the ledge, there was a fierce backwash of broken water. Fortunately, the marooned woman kept her head. It was equally fortunate that her plight was discovered before the tide rose to its full height. She slated that she could not have held on much longer.