NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

Shannon News, 11 January 1929, Page 3

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.

AT FOXTON SEASIDE

A mild sensation occurred amongst the bathers at the Foxton seaside on Sunday afternoon when it became known that twq children were in difficulties in the. surf (says the Herald).' It appears that . during the afternoon, Jack and Gordon Hunt, the t\vo children of Mr Hunt, of Palmerston North, were indulging in a bathe almost. opposite tlie bathing sheds on the ocean beach. .The tide was coming in but was a good way out, and the younger of the two children got into a hole and found itself in difficulties. The brother immediately went to the rescue but also got into difficulties. Allan Beattie) aged 16, of Palmerston North, who happened to be also indulging in a swim then went to the assistance of the two children. He succeeded in pushing the elder child out of the hole and then directed his a# tention to the younger child. It was witlv some difficulty that he reached the boy and when he did the kiddie, in 'alarm gripped him firmly around the neck. With the ehijd on his shoulders, he experienced great difficulty in again making the shore and a party oilmen under the direction of Mr A. E. Hansel, of Palmerston N., formed a, chain and Tyent out into the surf and were successful in bringing the pair to th<i shore. Young Beattie was in a state of exhaustion when' brought out but soon revived and was little the worse for his plucky and exacting rescue work. .The children were little the worse for their narrow escape. Prior to the above incident a woman also found herself unable to make the shore after indulging in a swim and had to be assisted out.

The life-saving reel which was provided for use in emergencies such as above, was in the bathing shed some distance up the beach at the time pf the occurrence and was not used. Some provision should be made to have the reel on the sand during the summer season, within easy reach in • case of an emergency. It is necessary, however, that someone with experience should handle the line as it is not an easy or by any means safe thing for an inexperienced person to take a life line oyt into the surf.