HEROIC SWIM

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1930, Page 8

HEROIC SWIM

SHARK INFESTED WATERS,

A YACHTING TRAGEDY

•SYDNEY, January 30,

From Perth comes the story of a yachting tragedy leuriched by a narrative of the bravery of the sole survivor, a young solicitor, Gordon Bede Darcy. In the dark, through sharkinfested waters, Darcy swain for five miles in a vain effort to bring aid to his comrades. The swim against a strong current took five hours, and during most of the time Darcy suffered from cramp. Still, remembering the plight of the three men whom he left clinging to the water-logged craft, ho refused to give in. As he neared the shore of Rottnest Island he was dashed against the rocks, and battered and bruised he landed on the beach. Then he struggled to a nearby house, and told the occupants what had happened. Boats were quickly launched, but they failed to find any trace of the missing men—Laurie Firth, Phillip Garnet Summers, and Josef Boucock, all young mein.

All the men, with the exception of Boucock, were “able swimmers,” and Summers, the skipper of the 2011 yacht Wattle, was an able yachtsman. The reason for the tragedy is unknown. The yacht in which the men were sailing did not strike a rock or a reef. About midnight, when halfway between Rottnest Island and the mainland, tho yacht started to make water. The men soon realised tlm seriousness of the position, but they were not prepared to see tho foundering of the vessel within a, few minutes. Yet that is what 1 happened. They all fought strenuously to prevent the inevitable. Kerosene tin s were used to bail out the water, but all to no avail. The yacht filled rapidly and sank, leaving only a small portion above the water.

Summers, Firth and Boucock stayed with the yacht, clinging to tho mast and tho boom, which were visible above the water, and Darcy agreed to strike out for the shore. Boucock seemed to realise that there was no hope for him, and he said almost cheerfully, “Good-hve, boys.” Darcv could seo the beacon light off Rottnest and he made straight for that. He had a fearful struggle, and >vas practically exhausted when he reached the island settlement. As soon as day broke an aeroplane assisted in the search, but no trace could he found of the men who had been left behind.

It was subsequently ascertained that on the trip down the river the yacht went ashore, and that may have caused a strain in the seams. It is also thought that recent hot weather may have opened the seams. Still, it is difficult to discover why the yacht should have opened up so suddenly and sunk with such little wa,ruing. The locality in which the tragedy occurred is noted for the numbei of sharks seen there, and it is feared ihat the men who lost their lives may have suffered a dreadful fate at the hands of these monsters. It is considered remarkable that Darcy "as able to reach the shore. Not taking into account the sharks, his swim to safety was a remarkable one.