Solomon Islanders rescue two of the four soldiers swept out to see in a flash flood at Ngalato on Guadalcanal. The soldier on the right struggling in water is Capt Graeme Henley, 1JPAU(P). Photo by Scott Radford-Chisholm, Townsville Bulletin

Soldiers rescued from drowning

By Maj Jeff Squire
FOUR Australian soldiers in the Solomon Islands escaped a brush with death recently when they were swept into rough waters off Guadalcanal’s Weather Coast.

The incident occurred after a half-section of soldiers from 8 Platoon, 2RAR had escorted two journalists from the Townsville Bulletin to the village of Ngalato, a few hundred metres down the beach from the Avu Avu RAMSI Police Post.

To reach the village the soldiers had to cross a small tidal creek running gently into the ocean. After a 40-minute visit to the village the group had to cross the creek again.

The water level had risen, not to the extent that crossing seemed unfeasible, but continued to rise while the soldiers crossed.

Two ADF personnel lost their footing, were swept a short distance towards the creek mouth and caught in the shore break for a few minutes before being rescued by local villagers and other soldiers present.

Another 2RAR soldier entered the water to provide assistance, but was also swept out towards the creek mouth and into deeper water where he was carried out at least 100 metres by a rip, to be later recovered by the Ngalato village Chief in a dugout canoe.

A Minimi and Steyr with GLA, as well as some personal equipment were lost during the struggle. Both weapons were later recovered.

The assistance provided by local villagers was instrumental in ensuring the soldiers involved were all recovered safely.

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