GALLANT RESCUE FROM DROWNING.

Kumara Times, Issue 3147, 4 December 1886, Page 2

GALLANT RESCUE FROM DROWNING.

[SYDNEY TELEGRAPH ]

What might have proved a fatal accident, involving the loss of several lives, was happily averted in the harbour by the presence of mind and pluck of Mr Thomas Coy, a compositor employed in the Globe office. A boat containing five or six young men, was descried by C-y, off Mr* Macquarie's Chair, in the middle of the harbour, to be careening over, having been struck by a heavy gust of wind. She began to fill rapidly, and the ocenpants of the craft were seen to be trying energetically to bale the water out. Failing in this, however, the helmsman headed her for the shore, bet before it could be reached, she turned bottom upwards. Two of the men were unable to swim, and one of these clutched frantically the keel of the boat, whilst the other struggled with the rest, who were vainly endeavourin« to save him. Coy immediately jumped into the water, and making straight for the man, brought him safely to shore. Having done this, he plunged in again after the second man, who was clinging to the boat. On reaching and takirx* hold of him, the drowning man seized and struggled with Coy, who, however, brought him to shore eventually. Both men wer«.' inacli I'xliaUKted ; but, assistauce was promptly r<-udeted by \he spectators, and on restoratives bein<* applied, they recovered in a little time

and weie able to walk home. The others who suffered immersion, gained the shore without much difficulty, and without having experienced more serious inconvenience th:m u ducking. [Coy was apprenticed at the Argus Office, Greymouth, and left for Australia with bis family about two years ago. He was a member of the Greymimth Rifles, and several times visited Knraara. He was also a noted pedestrian, and contested on several occasions in Kumara.—Ed. K. T.]