DROWNING FATALITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1902, Page 4

DROWNING FATALITIES.

Mr T. Gresham, Coroner, held an inquest on Tuesday afternoon at Lucas' Creek into the circumstances surrounding- the death of Frank McArthur, aged 21,' who was drowned in the creek on Monday last. Shirley frost, cousin of the deceased, said; that on Monday he went for a swim with deceased in a creek near where deceased's parents resided. The water was about fifteen feet deep,; and neither could swim very well. After a second plunge with deceased witness came out arc! saw deceased struggling- under the water about twenty yards away. Witness endeavoured to reach him by means of an overhanging- branch, but did not succeed in the attempt. Deceased sank only once, and witness went ana! called .assistance. The body was recovered about an hour and a half later. Alex. McArthur also gave evidence. William Stevenson deposed that the body was found lying on the bottom of the water hole, and that there was no contraction of the limbs or fingers. Dr. Hood said he thoughtdeath was due to syncope causing heart failure, resulting probably from shock caused by the coldness of the water. A verdict of "Accidental drowning while bathing" was returned.

A little boy named Leslie Walker, four years of age, son of Mr Charles Walker, of Richmond, was drowned on Tuesday by falling into Waruock"s dam, Cox's Creek, where he was playing with his brother. The brother, seven years old, went to his father's house near by to get a fishing' rod, leaving the little boy at the dam. When he returned he was iinable to find tlie child, whose body was subsequently recovered from the creek. &r. Knight, who was passing, was summoned, but the boy was already dead. An inquest was held yesterdaj' by Mr T. Gresham, Coroner, and a verdict of "Accidental drowning" was returned.