BOY RESCUED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32404, 8 March 1944, Page 3

BOY RESCUED

PLUCKY ACTION BY MATES GALLANT ACT AT KOPU NARROWLY ESCAPES DROWNING An incident, which, but for the plucky intervention of two of his school mates, would have resulted in a boy being drowned in the Kirikiri stream, occurred on Thursday afternoon, February 25. The boy was ultimately rescued without suffering ill-effects. Children from the Kopu school are often taken to the stream after school •for swimming, being under the supervision' of the school staff. They are dismissed after swimming, but on this afternoon three boys decided to return to the creek, unknown to the teachers, to play there after the usual school swimming had been held. Playing On A Log , Peter, a young boy, who is the son of Mr and Mrs J. Creek, of Matatoki, was apparently playing on a log at the side of a hole under a bridge leading into the golf course. At this time there was quite a fair amount of water in the stream after rain earlier in the week, and the pool was fairly deep. Creek was washed into the centre of the pool with the current, and there got into difficulties. The other boys, George More, aged about nine, and Trevor Gregory, aged 12, noticed Creek’s plight. More was the first to go to his assistance. The small boy was apparently not able to cope with the rescue work in spite pf gallant efforts, but when Gregory came Creek was brought ashore after difficulty. It is. believed 1 that he had already been under twice and was about to go under for the third time when his rescuers came. Creek, it is reported, struggled when More tried to rescue him and the- small boy could not handle Gregory, being a much bigger boy, was able to cope with the struggles of the lad. Creek showed some effects of his, alarming experience, but by night was feeling better and. is now quite well. Recognition of Gallantry The incident reflects great credit on the two boys who went to Creek’s assistance. Accounts of the occurrence are now being obtained from, them and it is probable that the matter will be placed before the proper authorities with a view to some suitable- recognition being made of the boys’ gallantry. The value of the training given at the school for such emergencies as these was also demonstrated. The children at the school had been told how to act in dealing with bathers in difficulties, and were able to act accordingly and thus expedite the rescue.