COLD BEATS SWIMMER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 577, 1 February 1929, Page 1

COLD BEATS SWIMMER

Less Than Hour in Strait SWAM MILE AND A-QUARTER Early End of Ambitious Try (Special to THE SUN) B„ , ni _, XT , , WELLINGTON, To-day. FA ILN by the extreme cold of the water, Miss Lily Copplestone gave up her attempt to swim Cook Strait at 18 minutes past one this morning, exactly 56 minutes after she i’ii! eroU tlig water. From Wellington Head, the promontory that forms the north wall of the entrance to Tory Channel, till she was seized by cramp, she was swimming strongly in a sea that tor V<°, fetrajt was unusually calm. tt f take off my hat to anyone who swims that Strait, lie 11 be a hero, she said when she had recovered a little." It is calculated that the swimmer swam a mile and aquarter.

’T HE prophecy of local people that every attempt to swim the Strait wojild be frustrated by cold went one step nearer to fulfilment. Yesterday afternoon Miss Copplestone swam for half an hour at Te Awalti, and then went to bed at the home of Mr. W. Toms, where she is staying, and slept till nine o'clock. A little earlier than that the official launch, Mr. M. Steele’s Lady Betty, left Picton with Mr. J. O’Grady, chair-

man of the committee; Mr. R. S. Rhind, official representative of the New Zealand Swimming Council; reporters, and one or two friends. It arrived at Te Awaiti at eleven o’clock, and there picked up Miss Copplestone and her mother and Mr. Toms, an experienced whaler, who acted as adviser.

The dozen or so people who live at the old whaling station close to the entrance of the Tory Channel gathered at the wharf, cheering as the launch, slipped out into the darkness. Just as the launch got outside, where the glassy surface of the Sound changed to a long low swell, the moon rosff. By the time of the start it was high enough to give a very welcome light to the swimmer. SWIMMER SEASICK Though the swell was not a big one, the launch tossed about a bit, and Miss Copplestone was seasick, which lowered her spirits before the swim began. As the launch had chugged on, Miss Copplestone was thickly covered with black grease, and when the Heads were reached she w-as ready to take a seat with Messrs. Toms and Rhind in the dinghy. The powerful spotlight lit the rugged coast of the South Island, as the dinghy manoeuvred to get close to the shore. The waves made it difficult, and sometimes the boat was 'lost to view-, but finally Miss j Copplestone landed safely. The wind I left but a whisper of the gay ! “Cheerio!” which she called, but at 1 12.21 the watchers saw spray flung, and heard the splash as she began the adventure. (Continued on Page 11, fifth column from left.)