Rescue of James Fleet

DESCRIPTION

NameRescue of James FleetEvent LocationLake IllawarraDescriptionHenry Robert Green of Albion Park aged 64 years and his son William saved the life of James Fleet 19 who was marooned on an island on the shores of Lake Illawarra during heavy flooding near Yallah in 1925.

James had ridden to his father’s farm on horseback with the intention of driving some cattle to higher ground to protect them from the rising floodwaters. His horse fell while wading through the gushing water and James was able to take hold of the animal who made it to an island but refused to enter the water again. Believing the water would subside James took the saddle and bridle and persuaded the animal to move towards the homestead. The time was 3pm

Neighbour, Gus Heininger who saw the commotion, rode over to the marooned man and asked him to get on his horse behind him but James refused on account of not being able to swim. Mr. Heininger hurried to get assistance. Mr. Monte Brown telephoned Albion Park Station. The night officer (Mr. J Luby) at once got in touch with Mr. Harry Green and his son both of whom had returned from attending to their fishing boats on the shores of Lake Illawarra. The Green’s ran to the lake, got their boat; a 16 footer and made straight for Yallah, but on reaching the entrance to Macquarie River, the current was particularly strong and swung the little boat around time after time. Huge logs crashed into the craft and the men expected that one of these would do damage.

The Green’s made a second attempt after resting a while but again the boat was tossed about like a cork. The occupants returned to Albion Park with another idea. The boat was then carried from the Lake to the Albion Park Station where it was securely tied to two railway tricycles and conveyed to nearly opposite Yallah station. Here the party was met by George Fleet father of marooned James. The boat was launched in the floodwaters with Mr. Fleet Snr. acting as pilot, together with Henry and William Green. The flood was so high that the boat coursed over pigsties and fences and though trees.

When they finally reached James he was standing knee deep in water, his limbs frozen and stiff with the cold. It was now 10.30pm and poor James had stood in the one position for over seven hours. With haste he was placed in the boat and hurried to dry land where his mother and friends were waiting, waving their lanterns to guide the boat. The lad’s mother had stood watching the spot where her son was from about 4pm.

William Green was awarded the Royal Shipwreck Relief and Humane Society NSW Award.Geolocation^[1] Last edited by: Will Chittick

Object

Family

Floodwaters at 'Meadow View', Albion Park 1984.

CONNECTIONS

PlaceGreen ValleysLocalityLake IllawarraYallahFamilyFleetGreen

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Rescue of James Fleet