THE SHARK HORROR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4668, 29 February 1924, Page 1

THE SHARK HORROR.

VICTIM’S FORTITUDE. The outstanding features of the attack made on Miss Nita Derrett by a shark at Bronte Beach, Sydney, are the bravery displayed by her nephews and the wonderful courage of the vie-, tim in her solicitude for her mother, who witnessed the rescue. Blue-eyed, fair-haired, and alert, Mr Eric Bennett, Miss Derrett’s nephew, admitted to a Daily Tele-’ graph representative that he Was “no hero.” and had the sufferer been anyone bat his own relation he might, have hesitated. All through his recital of the facts young Bejniiett stressed the point that, he and his cousin, J ini Brown, who is a Military Medallist, simply rushed to rescue their aunt, and did not want any sort of public recognition. To these gallant lads the whole thing is merely a fam-, ily affair. HOW IT HAPPENED. Bennett, who is 22 years of age, states that he was just preparing io have a run along the beach when ne heard Miss Derrett scream. He saw his aunt was hi some difficulty, and then Jim Brown shouted, “A shark I” and both lads rushed into the water, splashing and yelling. They were in up to their necks, and Miss Derrett was being rapidly pulled into deep water when they caught hold of her arms. They pulled Miss Derrett out on to the wet sand. “Then,” said Eric, “I rushed to the surf shed, and Constable Rtishbrooko dashed up and helped to support Aunt Nita. Jim and the constable covered her legs and held her until I told someone to ring up an ambulance. There was no stretcher, but I got a big plank, and, with the assistance of a lifesaver, we took aunty to the surf sheds. She was quite conscious all the time. She was only up to her waist when the shark attacked her, but the water gets deep very rapidly.” ’ ’ GIRL’S HEROISM.

Bennett added that his aunt’s sole concern throughout her terrible sufferings was for her mother, and she kept on urging her relatives to say that siie was all right. She displayed great courage throughout, and did not lose consciousness, in spite of .terrible loss of blood. At the hospital her anxiety again was that her .mother should be spared from knowledge that would cause her to suffer. Mr Fred Bennett, Miss Derrett’s brother-in-law, said that he had seen no braver woman, and the nurses at St. Vincent’s had assured him that the victim was one of the most courageous patients they had seen. “Miss Derrett,” added Mr Bennett "was the favourite of the family, and we all admired her for her pluck and good nature.” ■ Mr Bennett is strongly epposed 10 the suggestion made in one newspaper regarding a public testimonial. “I would like the public to suspend judgment in this matter,” he said, “until Miss Derrett is sufficiently recovered to give her version, and then honour will be given where honour is due.”