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A quick-thinking Scout saved an elderly man from drowning at Warkworth’s popular swimming hole at the cement works on Wilson Road.
Lolo Amigo, 76, a visitor from South Auckland, plunged in for a dip, along with other bathers, during a sunny, Thursday afternoon on January 23. But Lolo almost immediately found himself out of his depth and in difficulties.
Warkworth Scout Jack Edmunds, 11, noticed the man frantically waving his arms in the air and gulping down water as he desperately tried to keep his head above the water.
Jack, who was wearing fins at the time, hurriedly swam to assist, grabbed Lolo by the arm and dragged him to the shore. Once there, Lolo’s family members reached out to assist him out of the water.
“He was really shaken up but otherwise okay,” Jack says.
He has had some training in the Scouts to deal with such situations and it came in handy during the rescue. He says the most important thing he learned was to talk to the person struggling, reassure them and help them calm down.
“I said, ‘It’s okay, I’m a Scout and I am going to help you get back to shore’,” he says.
Jack’s father Andy Edmunds says Lolo was so grateful after the rescue, that he gave Jack a kiss on the head and posed for a photograph.
Meanwhile, Warkworth Scouts joined scouts from Puhoi, and Devonport to form the Phantom Panther Troop last month for the 22nd NZ Scout Jamboree, held at Mystery Creek in Hamilton.
Around 3000 scouts attended the 11-day event, which included quad biking, shooting, archery, confidence courses, abseiling, sailing and climbing.
Warkworth Scout Gemma Moore said it was great making new friends and being able to keep in touch with them after Jamboree.
To join the scouts, visit scouts.org.nz
