A BOATNIG ACCIDENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 99, 29 December 1913, Page 2

A BOATNIG ACCIDENT.

MAN'S RLVPKY RESCUE. TPeb Pbebs Absooiation.] Wellington, December 27. A boating accident occurred in Evans lay early yesterday afternoon, the • ■..nsequences of which would have i en even more serious than they were ' i.-.d it not been for the timely action ";,' Mi' A. Gowans, of Ivilbirnie. It 1 appears that Mr Palmer, who •sides at Childef's Terrace, Kilbir- ' ile; took two'little nieces for a sail in the bay in-a small boat. Mr and \|rs Faber, tlie children's parents, ..v..M'e. : watching' the"little Craft, when suddenly it overturned. The accident •)ccui J red about 20 or 30 yards front 'the shore, and'immediately a cry for 'ic'lp; was raised: Mr' Palmer, who :'Ould not swim, managed to hold on •ira tlje boat, and support one of the uttle gills, but the other sank out )f sight. Mr Gowans was attending cd his dinghy, about 50 yards away, Did, i taking the situation in at a glance, he immediately launched the ! Kdis) and made: all haste to the spot y.Jere the little girl had disappeared. Hy reached the place just as she was 'about to sink again, but, fortunately, ha managed to secure her. Mean* waile Mr' Faber,' father of the children, and a man named J. Morris, residing at Thompson Street, rushed into/ the water, and after some difficulty Gowans .managed to transfer his charge to the two men. He then returned'to Palmer, who appeared to be in difficulties. Securing tlfe second girl, Gowans brought her inshore and gave her to Faber and Morris. The rescuer then returned to Palmer to render what assistance lie could. It was a difficult task, as Palmer was! very much exhausted and showed signs of 'collapse. While Gowans j was endeavoring to bring Palmer ] ashore, Faber got into trouble, and Morris was thus left with the second girl and her fa flier to attend to. While still holding Palmer up; Gowans threw a rope from his dinghy to Moi'ris, and helped the latter to get ashore with Faber and his daughter. A little later the dinghy, Gowans, and Palmer were pulled ashore, and all were landed. Paliiier, Faber, and the U'o lilte girls were quite unconscious. They were laid out on the beach, and Gowans, who is well up in first aid, rendered the necessary assistance. After having worked with the two little girls' for half an hour he was rewarded by seeing them come round. Faber took a little longer to revive'. The greatest difficulty was experienced with Palmer. It took over an hour's hard work to resuscitate him.