In the midst of one of the Aorere district's worst storms, a 15-year-old boy risked his own life repeatedly to save a family trapped by raging floodwaters.
In late January 1899, the Aorere district was battered by a storm of immense proportions. Two families living in cottages opposite each other at Ferntown found themselves in grave danger as floodwaters rose around them.
James Hawthorn, his wife and children lived in one cottage, while Mrs Patterson and her five children lived in the other. Patterson's husband was away working at West Wanganui.
As the storm intensified and darkness fell, 15-year-old Samuel Westrupp decided to make his way to the Hawthorns' cottage to see how they were coping. By the time he reached the bridge across the Rua Taniwha, it was breaking up and a heavy current was running across the banked road.
At about 8.15pm, Hawthorn decided to leave his cottage and head towards the township. He got only as far as a neighbour's cowshed before being forced to stop.
After assisting Hawthorn, Samuel returned to help Patterson and her children. Reaching her cottage, he took her three-year-old son and told the distressed mother that Hawthorn would return to help her and the remaining children.
Crossing the stream, Samuel found no sign of Hawthorn. Assuming he had continued to the township, Samuel placed the boy on higher ground and set off to return to Patterson, believing she was still waiting in the cottage.
Through the roar of the storm and driving wind, he heard voices. Swimming across to a fence, he found Patterson and her children.
Rather than remain at the cottage and wait for help, Patterson had left carrying the baby in her arms while her three other children held onto her skirt. Reaching an embankment, she lost her footing and was swept into the floodwaters. The baby was torn from her arms and carried against a fence.
Without hesitation, Samuel swam through the flood and reached Patterson and her children. He helped pull them onto higher ground among trees, where they could cling on above the rising water.
Samuel then returned to retrieve the three-year-old boy. Unable to reach safety as conditions worsened, he sheltered in a small storehouse for the rest of the night.
Meanwhile, the Patterson family remained trapped in the trees from about 8.30pm until 2.30am.
Throughout the night, Hawthorn walked back and forth between the stranded family and his own. At about 2.30am, he was finally able to reach Patterson and guide the family back to the house. When daylight arrived, he searched for and found the baby's body.
At about 5.30am, Samuel was able to return to the Patterson family with the young boy.
As the inquest into the tragedy concluded, special mention was made of Samuel's bravery in saving the Patterson family. His actions were later reported to the Humane Society of New Zealand.
In May 1900, Samuel was presented with the society's Certificate of Merit and Medal for conspicuous bravery in saving lives. The award was presented by county chairman Mr Sinclair.
