Royal Humane Society & Life Saving Awards

Lot 1148    Day 1    Royal Humane Society & Life Saving Awards

Estimate $2,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND, medal struck in bronze (38mm), by M&Y Ch (Moller & Young, Christchurch), fixed suspender, ribbon and pin-back brooch bar, reverse inscribed 'Awarded/To Cary/Richard Beattie/For An Act Of/Valour On/31 March 1997', in unofficial case. Uncirculated.

Case Number: 1527^^Citation: In the afternoon of 31 March 1997, a father was walking along the beach at Napier, holding the hands of his four year old daughter and six year old son, when the boy fell into the water. The father tried to help him out but a large rogue wave then hit the three of them, knocking them over and sweeping them out to sea. Their mother, who saw this, became very distressed and ran into the sea in an attempt to save her children. Cornelis Wynhorst followed her out, but due to the heavy surf and the strength of the waves it took considerable time and effort to bring her back to the safety of the shore. When he attempted to rescue the father and the son he was forced back. Cary Richard Beattie also dashed into the sea and managed to reach beyond the first breaker, where he found the six year old boy. He tried valiantly to bring him to land but was unable to do so and returned exhausted to the beach.^^By this time the Napier Police had been advised and Constable Miringaorangi took a rescue tube from the boot of his patrol car and went into the water. The sea was extremely rough, with high unevenly breaking waves, so he attached a rope to his waist and tried to cross the surf. He was, however, quickly beaten back. Constables Gimblett and Young also retrieved surf rescue tubes and they battled their way through the surf. Gimblett made a valiant attempt to rescue the boy and Young reached the man, eventually bringing him to shore. At this point Miringaorangi entered the sea again and swam out to the boy, who was now about 15-20 metres off shore. He was able to drag him in to land, where they were both dumped on the beach. Before they could be swept away again Wynhorst recovered the youngster. The daughter had lost her life in tragic circumstances but the rescuers had combined well to save the lives of the father and son in conditions that almost overcame all of them.