ACCIDENTS & DEATHS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 208, 15 June 1933, Page 5

ACCIDENTS & DEATHS.

FISHERMAN DROWNED.

DRAGGED OVERBOARD BY ROPE.

AUCKLAND, June 14. While he was assisting in fishing operations on an Auckland launch off Coroniandel Peninsula, Mr Leonard Henry Peterson, whose parents reside at Mount Eden, Was dragged overboard by the rope and drowned. Mr Peterson was a member of the crew of the Clifton, owned by Mr G. H. Knaggs, of Auckland. The third member of the crew was Mr Edward Flavell. At the time of the accident the men had commenced fishing operations and Mr Peterson was standing on the starboard s'ide paying out the dragrope attached to the net. The weather was fine, while only a medium sea was running. Suddenly Mr Peterson called out" that his foot had been caught in the rope, and Mr Flavell, who was at the controls, immediately stopped the engine to ease the drag on the line, while Mr Knaggs left the wheel and went to assist Mr Peterson. He had just seized him when the rope dragged both of them overboard, Mr Knaggs being pulled over the side by Mr Peterson.

As soon as the others went overboard Mr Flavell reversed the engine and backed the launch toward them. Mr Knaggs was assisted aboard, and the two men then hauled in the dragrope which had run out with Mr Peterson for 45 feet. When he was brought aboard the rope was- tightly wound round his right ankle. The rope was cut, with the loss of several hundred feet of rope and the net. As soon as Mr Peterson was lifted aboard Mr Knaggs and Mr Flavell commenced restorative measures and continued them for two hours without success. They then sailed for Quarry Rock to obtain a doctor. On the journey artificial respiration was continued for another hour, but it was then seen that further efforts were hopeless.