LIFE-SAVING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 29, 17 January 1912, Page 7

LIFE-SAVING.

EXCITING SCENES ON BONDI BEACH.

PLUCKY RESCUERS

Bondi Beach, shortly before G p.m. ov Thursday week last, was the scone of considerable excitement in consequence of a number of people being carried out by the undertow, and the members of tlie N Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club who conducted the rescue work, were responsible for saving several lives. At the hour mentioned there were hundreds of people enjoying a dip in the surf, and included in the number were Messrs H. D. MTntosh (of fight promoting fame) and Joe Woodman, the manager of Sam Langford. Suddenly there was a shriek from a young girl, who had been carried about 150 yards from the shore. Her cries for help attracted attention, and the members of the life-savers were soon in action. M’lntosh and Woodman swam to the girl’s assistance, and the former held her up until the arrival of K. Grieve and R. O’Brien, who quickly swam out to the rescue. In turn. Grieve, O’Brien, M’lntosh and Woodman supported the girl until Roy Hole arrived with the line. Hole is a strong swimmer and he took charge of the girl. On shore the crowd had gathered. The members of the lifesavers were ready for their haul. In the water the girl was struggling viollently, and Hole, with the assistance of the others had a lively time holding her up. At last the word was given, for all hands to catch the line, and in a few’ moments they,' with the oxoption of M'lntosh, were dragged through the surf towards the beach. Those conducting the hauling operations were rather vigorous in their work, and the people on the. ( pthqr end of the line, were pulled for nearly 200 yards under water. They all clung for dear life to the line, and when at last they land/sd on the beach they were pretty well 1 exhausted.i In fact, Hole who was in the lifebelt, became unconscious about twenty yards from the shore, and it was some time before he recovered. All the time, M’lntosh who had missed the line, was struggling against the waves, and was having a bad time. The under-current was strong and he made little progress. Rupert O’Brien who had been pulled in on the line, realising M’lntosh,’s .position returned to the water and swam towards the fight promoter, who, with a big swell had been thrown well in towards the shore, O’Brien grabbed M’lntosh, and soon had him ashore. While this incident was working itself out, another exciting time was being experienced by Alfred Langham, of Council Street Waverley, who had gone to the rescue of two children drawn out by the undertow. Langham who is a strong swimmer, clung to the half-drowned children, and turning on his back endeavoured to kick his way ashore. He was, however, overburdened, and bad to exert his strength to keep above water. Grieve who had swum out to save the girl, saw Langham’s plight, and after assisting her, left to lend aid to Langham. Between the two they saved the children, and also the mother of them who had been . washed beyond her depth. There were other life-sav-ing incidents. The members of the life-saving club, assisted by Constable Stokes, did excellent service in reviving the sufferers, who, after a short stay at the club-house, were able to leave for their homes.