On the 18th of July 1932, around noon, four boys decided to go for a swim in Shandwick Bay. There was a full tide, a terrific ground swell and huge rolling waves were breaking on to the beach. The boys were not strong swimmers, after a few minutes Robert Ross, 9 Bank Street and John Vass, 2 Ross Street, decided it was not safe and came ashore. John McAngus, 9 John Street, who, aged 18, was an apprentice baker in Kyle of Lochalsh and Donald MacKenzie, 8 1/2 John Street, stayed out and were ducking under the breakers, unaware the undertow was pulling them away from the shore. They were 40 yards from shore when the realised what was happening and they were already in trouble, they shouted for help. On the shore their cries were heard by Andrew Wood, aged 27 of 12 Park Street, and by Alexander Vass, aged 50 of 1 Park Street, both men stripped off their outer clothes and dived in.

Alexander Vass reached Donald MacKenzie and managed to get him ashore, Andrew Wood managed to get a hold of John McAngus but with McAngus struggling he lost his grip on him, by this time Wood was becoming exhausted and Alexander Vass swam out again to take him ashore, by this time McAngus had disappeared. Andrew Wood was so exhausted by the rescue attempt he lay on the shore, nearly unconscious, for an hour before he started to recover.

Because of the size of the rollers coming in it was impossible for a boat to leave the harbour to look for McAngus, over one hundred people lined the shoreline hoping to spot him but it was to no avail. There was nothing in following newspapers to say his body was ever recovered.

John McAngus’s mother was a widow and he had brother’s and sister’s. His mother and one of his sister’s had gone to Inverness that day and Mr. W. Tarrel, on holiday in the village, made his car available for the minister to go to Inverness to break the bad news to John’s mother and bring her and her daughter home.

For their valiant attempt to rescue John McAngus and for the rescue of Donald MacKenzie. Alexander Vass and Andrew Wood were each presented with the Carnegie Hero Trust parchment and a cheque for £15 at Hilton Public School. Mr G.A. Ross of Rhynie presided and Sir Robert Brooke made the presentation. There was a very large attendance from the villages to watch the proceedings.