DROWNED AT SHELLY BEACH

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 5

DROWNED AT SHELLY BEACH

-. * ■ WHILE BATHING AT NIGHT. .YOUTH UNABLE TO SWIM. The danger of bathing while not being able to swim was exemplified at Shelly Beach last evening, when Leslie Arthur Adams, aged 18, employed as a driver, passed silently from among a crowd of blithesome bathers to a. watery fate. His body was found shortly before two o'clock this morning by his father, while searching with the assistance of the polic?. An inquest was held during the forenoon at the Coroner's Court by Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M. (coroner), Senior-Sergeant Rutledge the police. The father, an ajrsted water manufacturer of Freeman's Bay, said that at 12 o'clock last night he was informed that his son had been drowned. Witness went to Shelly Beach, and, after searching with the police with the aid of a boat until 2 a.m.. he saw the body of deceased floating in about three feet of water. Dr. Brockway was called, and he pronounced life to lie extinct, after which the. body was taken to the hospital mortuary. Deceased was 18 years of age, and could not swim. He had gone with a cousin named James Goodall to .bathe after tea last evening. Witness understood that when last seen his son was standing in the water up to his shoulders. Shortly afterwards, young Gcodall missed him, and, falling to find him ashore.,- gave the alarm. Dr. Brockway said that when he reached the beach life, was extinct. The body appeared to have been in tbe water five of six hours, the cause of death being drowning. The body was well nourished, being that of a. male ag?d about 18 or 20. who had apparently been in good health. As' further witnesses were not avail--able, the coroner adjourned the inquiry to the Magistrate's Courthouse on Monday forenoon next.