Mexborough and Swinton Times, July 29th, 1932
Rescued By Guides
Goldthorpe Children Nearly Drowned At Bridlington
Club Outing Incident
A drama was enacted at Bridlington on Monday in which the principal roles were taken by two little Goldthorpe girls who were on a day visit ad nearly lost their lives. They were Sylvia and Mona Harrison, aged 5 and 12 respectively, daughters of Mrs. Alice Harrison, 3, Lockwood Road, Goldthorpe, and were among a party of 150 children with almost 100 parents and friends who had been taken by the committee of the Goldthorpe Reform Club to Bridlington. The occasion was the first annual children’s outing organised by the club.
The accident occurred within an hour of their arrival. Most of the children had been taken to the North Sands, and Mrs. Harrison, about noon, left Mona and Sylvia playing on the beach. She was away eight minutes, enquiring where they had to go to dinner – the club provided both dinner and tea and gave each child 1s 6d to spend – but during that time her children narrowly escaped drowning.
Immediately after her mother had gone, Sylvia ran along a diving board, which covers the whole length of a breakwater. The tide was coming in and when near the end of the diving board Sylvia slipped and fell into nearly nine feet of water. Her Sister, Mona, seeing her fall, dashed into the water and managed to reach Sylvia, but the incoming waves forced them apart, and lifted Sylvia over the breakwater. Mona again attempted to reach Sylvia but became exhausted and could only cling to the breakwater. In the meantime, two young women who were walking along the sands saw the little girls struggling in the water and went to their assistance. The one who went for Sylvia had to swim out to reach her. Sylvia was unconscious when brought ashore, and required artificial respiration. Mona was exhausted. The girls were taken to a flat nearby and were well cared for and also received fresh clothing.
The two rescuers, after announcing that they were Girl Guides, slipped away without disclosing their identity. Efforts are now being made by the Reform Club committee and Mrs. Harrison to trace them.
The rescue attracted a crowd of 200. During this week a “Times” reporter visited the girls and found them little the worse for their experience.