BODY RECOVERED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 65, 28 December 1935, Page 8

BODY RECOVERED

DROWNING IN RAKAIA RIVER.

SWEPT SIX MII.ES DOWN STREAM (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, December 27. The body of Air Maxwell Keith Townsend, the well-known Canterbury mountaineer, who was swept off liis feet and drowned in the ltakaia river about 9 o’clock yesterday morning, was recovered a 2 o’clock this afternoon by the head shepherd of Lake Heron station. The body was found about six miles from where Townsend entered the liver. Further light has been thrown on the tragedy by reports which have been received from 'Lake Heron station whence the party set out. About 16 men arrived at Lake Heron on Christmas Day and immediately left for the Rakaia, down the lake stream. About 13 miles were covered to Thompson’s hut and all the party spent the night there. In the morning all the members of the party went down to the riverbed which is there about half a mile wide and covered with large boulders. It was not possible to cross there, so the party went up the riyer and finally started to cross at Top Hut about five miles further up. Both Mr Townsend and Mr W. B. Cullens set out to cross the river without being first roped up. Mr G. C. T. Burns did not enter the water with them. When the pair were in the stream each fell ancl was swept away down the river. Air Cullens was fortunate in being washed np against a rock and with assistance was brought safely ashore. The current at the place was very swift and the river very dirty.

As soon as Air Townsend was swept away by the water the other members of the party rushed along the bank trying to get near enough to help him. However, the current was so fast that they were outdistanced and lost sight of Mr Townsend. Air Townsend was encumbered by a pack at the time, and this would hamper his efforts in the water. Not daring to try to cross the stream in the same place some of the party went quickly upstream and over a wire rope bridge which spans the river about five or six miles above where the accident occurred. The party then went down the north side, but searched without result. The rest of the party followed the stream down -and though the search was continued all that day and the following morning, no trace was discovered. Mr J. AlcDonald (head shepherd at Lake Heron) and one of the other shepherds, were out mustering. When told of the accident Mr McDonald, who had a horse, took it across the Rakaia and searched the other side. Townsend’s pack was found this afternoon about three or four miles below lop Hut. Shortly afterwards Mr AlcDonald found the body on the edge of the stream about two miles further down. Search parties had left Methven and Christchurch this morning. OPENING OF THE INQUEST. The District Coroner (Air E. C. Bathurst) opened the inquest on Alaxwell Keith Townsend at Methven this afternoon. After evidence of identification had been taken, the inquest was adjourned until Alonday.