RESCUE IN HARBOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1933, Page 4

RESCUE IN HARBOUR

GIRL’S FALL FROM FERRY. SAVED BY BOY SWIMMER. AUCKLAND,, February 27. A girl pupil at the Bayfield School fell into the harbour from the. ferry steamer Kestrel yesterday afternoon and was rescued by a boy .who is swimming champion of the school. Wittt other children from .the,,school excursion to Pien Island and the incident happened when the vessel was off Northcote. .• Several children were playing at the chains guarding the gangway entrance amidships when a; girl aged 13,' Gwenda Hill, whose home is at Westmere, lost her balance and fell overboard, As, thevessel was crowded it was some time be.ore either the crew or the,teachers in charge of the excursion were aware of the mishap. / Yr.v As soon as it was known that the girl was in the water, a teacher, Miss I. A. Farreliy,- .who is swimming and life-saving instructress at the school, jumped overboard, and the ferry was. stopped. By this time the girl, /who, was a good swimmer, was about 150/ yards astern. A boat was lowered,,.and the ferry steamer turned, back to where tlie girl tcould be seen swimming, reaching the, spot a short time before the dinghy. As the steamer stopped near the girl, one of the senior .pupils, Max Cleary, who is.swimming champion of: the school, dived, overboard with the permission of the .-headmaster, Mr AD . Melnness, and struck out for the girl, who was becoming exhausted. He was able to support her until the dinghy arrived, when the : two were rescued. Miss Farreliy was then picked up, all three -were taken on board the ferry. Although she was, nearly exhausted when Cleary reached .her, the girl soon, -recovered.