HEROIC ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1930, Page 1

HEROIC ACT

FOUR CHILDREN SAVED

YOUNG WOMAN’S STRUGGLE,

AUCKLAND, Jan. 8

A story of a young woman’s heroism in swimming out into Whangaroa harbour to save four young children who had tieen carried away from the shore in a dinghy is told in ft letter to the “New Zealand Herald,” by Mr E. H. Hohneck, of Kaeo, father of two of the children, whose ages are four and five years respectively.

Disregarding her doctorVs order that she was not to exert herself in any way, Miss 'Jessie McLean, aged 19, of Kaeo, swam for over 300 yards to recover the dinghy, which was being carried away by the tide, and in sight of Mrs Hohneck and the mother of the two other small boys who were in the boat. Miss McLean brought the boat back to the shore, collapsing from exhaustion and suffering from a severe heart .attack through hei exertions. Mr Hohneck says that the young woman’s plucky act would not have become known but for the fact that he considered she was responsible for a piece of heroism made all the more commendable bv the fact that she knew she not hn J e had sufficient strength to reach the dinghy. ' . , The children were playing in the dinghy at the water’s edge when it commenced to drift away 1 tide. • Mrs Hohneck and the mother of the other children were on the beach, but neither could swim and the dinghy was beyond their depth when thev realised what had happened. There was a fairly strong current running, and the s plight seemed desperate. The sma boat was about 150 yards from shore when Miss McLean saw it. She immediately entered the watei « started to swim to the boat, ai spite of the fact that she became tired after a short period, she continued against the outgoing tide carrying with it the boat and the four children. _ .. .

Mrs McLean, wlm was on the repeatedly urged her >1«"S l " rest, but she struggled on. ami at las ,aught the side of the drifting boat She was too exhausted to climb aboaid for some time, but eventually she managed to pull herself over the side and paddle the dinghy back to shallow water. As soon as the boat was in fairly shallow water, Miss McLean jum\pod overboard again an pushed it the rest of the way to the shore. She had barely completed her task when she collapsed and. had to be carried to a nearby tent, where she was revived after some time.