RACE FOR LIFE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 124, 29 April 1925, Page 5

RACE FOR LIFE.

THROUGH ROUGH SEAS. BOY SAVES BROTHER. BRISBANE. April 11. Undaunted by tho big seas which were running, and fiie fact that he had never before handled a launch alone, a filteen-ycar-old boy, Vincent Bussetin, put 1o sea from “L” Island yesterday to save the life of his elder brother, Victor, who had accidentally shot himself in the right breast. Victor was stallcinp a hawk, when ho tripped mid fell, exploding the pea rifle he was carrying. He managed to struggle back home to his mother and younger brother, his father being absent in Brisbane. Twenty miles away was MnclCay, but medical attention was vitally necessary, so across the turbulent stretch of water a 25ft. island launch was headed. The mother sat in tho cabin attending her elder son, while the younger look his place at tiie tiller. Waves broke aboard, and it was found desirable to run at quarter speed. “MOST MERITORIOUS.” Battling with tha elements for seven hours gave the young mariner an anxious time, but his brother's life was at stake. Gritting his teeth, lie simply hung on, and looked to Providence to see him through. Eventually he was rewarded by seeing his brother safely in medical hands. Seafaring men at Mackay describe the young lad's performance as most meritorious, especially as the latter part of the trip was across shoally water.