Survivor invests in living

Delcie Martin.

Two children may live as the result of a Te Puke woman's brush with death 39 years ago. And her benevolence.

Delcie Martin was 'clinically dead” when she was pulled from the surf at Papamoa Beach one summer's evening four decades ago. No pulse and no breathing. 'At the time I thought: ‘This is it, I am going'. And I am keen to give others the best chance of survival in a similar situation.”

Delcie hasn't publicly shared her story until today – it's a near-death story but also a story of good fortune and great courage. And, as one of the first members of the public to offer $1000 to pay for a year's swimming lessons for two children, she's decided to speak out to encourage others.

'I am a very lucky person,” says Delcie. But she doesn't want to leave it to luck for others. She wants to emphasise the value of learning to swim. And so Delcie's reliving her dark day at the beach after learning of a BaySwim initiative to sponsor swimming lessons for children from families experiencing financial difficulty.

The near drowning on Papamoa Beach was documented in newspapers of the time. But it's not a time or a place she's happy to revisit. 'I can't read those newspaper cuttings,” says Delcie. 'I couldn't go back there.”

The experience seriously impacted her life. She has never been back to the surf. It's taken her a long time to even cope with watching other people in the surf. And there have been flashbacks – during a visit to a car wash after her ordeal she was frightened by the noise and rush of water, and her inability to escape it.

Delcie was raised on a farm near Matamata. She learned 'very basic swimming” in the creek, and during her family's annual two-week beach holiday in summer.

Delcie now recalls how she and a friend Bob went for a summer evening surf swim. She was standing in the surf up to her thighs when a freak wave dragged both her and Bob out to sea. 'Bob tried to help me but I told him he needed to go. I tried to get myself in, but I couldn't. The surf just took me further and further out and I could barely see the beach.”

She had dark thoughts. 'This is it, I am going.” She also has recollection of being tossed about by the sea and being exhausted. 'I lost consciousness out there.”

Help was on its way. Bob had got back to the beach and raised the alarm. A bloke called Bruce Crosby responded. He swam out and found Delcie.

'If it hadn't been for Bruce [Crosby] I wouldn't be here today. He brought me ashore where, fortunately, there was a doctor on the beach.”

There was no pulse and no breathing. 'The first thing I remember was the ambulance going over the railway line at Te Maunga. I recall my arms falling off the bed and not having the energy to lift them. My lungs were full of water and they didn't know what damage may result from the lack of oxygen.”

She was in hospital for a week. Bruce was awarded a New Zealand Royal Humane Society award for his act of bravery.

Delcie recovered to continue her teaching career, becoming principal at Merivale School until 2006. She understands the value of sponsored swimming lessons. 'There will be many parents who can't afford swimming lessons. Survival for them is paying for power and food.”

The Salvation Army will select the successful candidates. Each will be funded for a year of lessons to ensure basic skills are developed. This will cover 40 weeks of swimming development and six weeks of water safety and skills. The cost for this is $500 per child. Anyone keen to back the cause can email: matthew.strange@bayvenues.co.nz

The children won't be identified as sponsored and will be in mainstream classes at Baywave, Greerton and Otumoetai pools. Donations will go into one fund to pay for lessons for as many children as possible. There is no set donation amount.

You may also like....