SUCKED INTO A PIPE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2092, 19 February 1920, Page 4

SUCKED INTO A PIPE.

BOY’S TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. DRAWN 200 .YARDS THROUGH , . .DRAIN. At Ballarat recently a wonderful escape from drowning was experienced by Charles, Strickland, aged 11, while Clifford Dowling, aged 13, had’an almost equally sensational, escape. The, two lads, with others, hadbeen swimming in the Corporation Baths, and after ! hoy left the water the caretaker opened I he outlet pipe to empty the basin. Soon after he had retired to his quarters several lads r(Centered the water, and while playing near the exit were surpris* ed to see Strickland disappear. grating had been removed, and the suction laid drawn him into the pipe, which is only lOin in diameter, and loads from a pit about 2ft. square sunk in the. bottom of the bath. The depth -at tins point is 7ft. G. Vawdrey heard calls for heir, coming from the rear of the premises, where there is a, pit from which the escape, drain to Yarrowee Creek runs. Clinging to the grating of (his pit: was the boy Strickland. Yawdrey rescued him ny removing the grating, and drove him in a motor to the baths. Nothing of the incident had reached the caretaker until Vawdrey and the hoy Strickland arrived. Then the caretaker ran to the baths, and he saw a lad standing near the exit pipe, in 3tt. of water. The hoy was holding the hand of another lad who was wedged into the exit pipe, having been drawn in up to bis hips, With difficulty the second boy,Dowling, was pulled out. He was suffering from bruises and exhaustion, while Strickland,’ who went 200 yards through the pipe, escaped with slight abrasions.