Lindsay George McMillan, (1931-31/3/1956). "for another to live"

RESCUE BY PLANE FROM SEA

Lifeline Dropped To Drowning Man 

HELPER ON BEACH DROWNED 

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 1.

Hovering over mountainous seas at Lake Ferry this afternoon, a Tiger Moth aircraft rescued a man who had been dragged more than half a mile out by the currents. The plane dropped a buoy connected to a lifeline, and the man, who had been in the water for three hours, was eventually dragged to the shore. The episode did not end without tragedy, however, for an onlooker who saw the man’s plight was drowned in an attempt to save him. He was:

— 

Lindsay McMillan, aged 28. a painter, of Plimmerton. 

The man who was rescued was: Jack Stimpson, aged about 50. a nightwatchman, of Villa street, Masterton. 

Mr Stimpson was taken to the Masterton Hospital, where his condition tonight is reported as satisfactory. 

Mr McMillan was the leading man in a party who tried to get a rope to Mr Stimpson from the shore. A thundering breaker caught the three leading men on the rope, and Mr McMillan was dragged out to sea by the backwash. He was seen for two or three seconds, and then disappeared. His body was washed up on the beach at 10.30 p.m. 

Three aircraft were sent to the scene. Mr M. Daniell, the pilot of one of them, circled above Mr Stimpson, dragging a lifejacket on the end of a rope. After several very tight turns, the pilot succeeded in getting the jacket to Mr Stimpson. Mr Daniell then tried to drag the helpless man to safety, but was forced to drop the line as the attempt endangered the aircraft. 

Mr Stimpson had managed to put on the jacket, but the aircraft was forced to abandon the attempt. 

Using the beach as an airstrip, another Tiger Moth, piloted by Mr P. Legge, the Masterton Aero Club’s instructor, took off with a passenger in a second attempt.

An improvised buoy was secured to a longer rope. The plane took the buoy, and the other end was anchored to the shore. Good judgment enabled the passenger in the plane, Mr P Donaldson, to drop the buoy on the water where Mr Stimpson could reach it. 

Helpers on the shore then began pulling Mr Stimpson about 1000 yards to the shore. He was dragged through turbulent seas, and when he was nearing the beach, Mr D. Luveridge dived in with a lifeline to help him. A breaker caught the men. and they were tossed well up on to the sand. 

First aid was given by three trained nurses on the beach. The rough sea had stripped Mr Stimpson of his clothes, and his body was blue.   -Press, 2/4/1956.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.