Webster Collapses Near End of Swim

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 585, 11 February 1929, Page 16

Webster Collapses Near End of Swim

PLUCKY ENDEAVOUR COLD AND LACK OF FOOD Press Association WELLINGTON, To-day. Beautiful weather and conditions perfect, but inadequate arrangements for providing nourishing liquid food, combined with the low temperature of the water, would seem to be the cause of the failure of the Auckland swimmer, Ronald J. Webster, of the Ponsonby Club, to cross the Wellington harbour from the Ferry Wharf to Day's Bay on Sunday afternoon. swimmer had to be taken from the water within a mile and aquarter of his objective, having reached a point where the rip was not so pronounced. Another half-mile and Webster would have had the benefit of the incoming tide, setting in to the Bay. Up to this stage he had shown good form, and was apparently going well, but the accompanying rowing boat was not able to supply him with the very necessary nourishing hot drinks to counteract the numbing effect of the coldness. This, combined with the fact that the swimmer swallowed a fair quantity of water, all had a serious effect, and at 2 p.m. he was noticeably weakening. Shortly after he asked for food and intimated that he was very cold. A launch, the Vagabond, was nearby, and Mr. Holmes, the owner, undertook to supply something hot, but before the drink could be administered the swimmer collapsed, and J. Walker, of the Milford Surf Club, went to his assistance, just reaching him in time, as Webster was quite helpless. "Willing help was forthcoming from the Vagabond’s crew, and first aid was applied on the launch. Webster, who was in a pretty bad way on leaving the water, revived sufficiently to be transferred to the Day’s Bay beach, and from there to the hot baths.

M. Bloomfield, trainer, of the Takapuna Surf Club, considers that the water was very cold. He and Webster had done a fair amount of training at Island Bay, but conditions were found to be colder in the harbour. Though a liberal coat of grease had been applied to the swimmer, he appeared to be feeling the effect of the immersion.

A huge crowd waited at Day’s Bay for the appearance of the Aucklander, and great interest was taken in the event, the ferry boats Cobar and Muritai being filled to utmost capacity. Leaving Wellington at 10.40 a.m., Webster maintained a steady pace, using the trudgeon stroke, and up to 2 p.m. appeared to have experienced no difficulty with the temperature of the water, and his sudden collapse at 2.15 p.m. came as a surprise to those accompanying him.

Interviewed, after having' sleep and rest, Webster stated that he had every confidence that he would get across, and made a mistake in not providing for food on the journey. He was not downhearted and considers that he will be quite fit in a day or so, and may possibly make another effort within a few days, probably starting from the Day’s Bay side.

The harbour swim was accomplished over the route followed by “Tiny” Freyberg. V.C., before he left for the front. He apparently experienced no great difficulty in bridging the

mile gap between the city and the bay. On to-day’s experience it is extremely doubtful if the Cook Strait can be conquered. ."Experienced launch owners state that the water in the Strait is extremely cold, and the tides flow very strongly, making the feat one of extreme endurance.

NEALE WINS SWIM H. Neale won the final of a 50yds handicap race, held on Saturday afternoon at the Shelly Beach Baths by the Ponsonby Swimming Club. Midgley. second to Neale in the second heat, and Moore, second to Pike in the first heat., were second and third, respectively.