BATHING TRAGEDY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 279, 7 September 1935, Page 2

BATHING TRAGEDY

RESCUER DRAGGED TO DEATH. How a bather, who was drowning in the River Coquet, at Rothbury, Northumberland, struggled with two rescuers, and dragged one down to death, was told at an inquest recently. The victims were John Robson, aged 20, of Felling, and Arthur Henry Staward, aged 20, of Pelaw. Cecil Staward, woodworker, of Pelaw, stated he accompanied a party of men to bathe. He had left the water and was on the river bank when he saw Robson swimming toward hirn about midstream. Robson seemed to be in difficulty, and at tire deepest part of the river, began to struggle. Staward added that he immediately dived in, as also did Arthur Staward from the opposite bank.

He got hold of Robson by the hair and began to swim to the west side~of the river. “He suddenly seized me by the shoulder,” continued l Staward “and we both went under. He‘let me loose, and I came to the surface again. “Cecil Staward then, got hold of Robson, and the two struggled. One end of a towel was thrown and one of them made a grab and misseu. They then sank again still struggling.”

Staward declared he felt exhausted, and! being unable to do anything swam to the river hank. He thought Robson lost his nerve. A constable said he saw the bodies lying in 10ft or lift of water shortly afterwards. A verdict of “Accidentally drowned” was returned, and the coroner complimented Cecil Staward.