PLUCKY RESCUE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1933, Page 6

PLUCKY RESCUE

MAN .SAVED FROM DROWN INO

INCIDENT ON WATERFRONT

AUCKLAND, April 4

The strenuous and plucky efforts of several • rescuers wore responsible for life oil Edward McDonald, agbd -ft; who got into difficulties while bathing off the western reclamation yesterday morning. Tributes are paid bv Spectators to the bravery of an unknowir iiiaii who, although unable to su'fhi. unhesitatingly walked out . until ithc°'water reached his chin and attempted to rescue Mr McDonald. Tlie incident occurred at a point where the reclamation embankment sic jes very sharply into deep water. McDonald, who cannot swim, suddenly found himself out of depth and unable to regain the bank. Immediately an elderly man, who was taller Than McDonald; walked, fully clothed, into the water and was able to take hold of McDonald and start to pull him to safety. In his desperate struggles, however, McDonald pulled U*fis wuiilc!-be rescuer beneath the surface. A second man started to wade out toward the two struggling men, hut in the meantime the occupants of a passing launch had heard the cries and two young men, partly clothed dived in. The distance to the bank Was short and, ’being good swimmers, they had. little difficult in pulling both men ashore.

McDonald was unconscious. Fortunately the cries had been heard on the Paua, berthed some distance a Way, pud two officers, Mr F. Evans, third engineer, and Mr .1. Regnaud, third officer, ran to the scene and aoplied artificial respiration to McDonald.

i Thanking the young'men who had carried out the rescue, the elderly man Who hail first tried to save McDonald, yan. to the Paua t 0 send a telephone call to the St. John Ambulance and then, soaking wet, walked away. u He was one of the gamest men I have ever met.” an officer of the ship said yesterday.