TRAGIC END TO FUN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 31, 7 February 1927, Page 11

TRAGIC END TO FUN.

YOUNG MAN DROWNED. amusing children. PRETEXT)ED TO DRIVE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WAIHI, this day. How Andrew George Johnson (21)..0f Waiiou. who was drowned on Saturday morning in the Uretara River, Katikati, was amusing some children when" he lost lis Ufa was told at the inquest held by the d-Str.cc coroner (Mr W. Wallifutt; yesterday. It was stdM-d in evidence that the deceased, v.-.10 vas employed as a locomotive driver by the Armstrong, Whitworth Company, and who was unable to swim, was amusing some children in pretending to Jive from the wharf. He was in a bathing costume. Apparently he lost his balance and fell over the end of the wharf into he water. Gordon O'Neill (14', who witnessed the accident, said the deceased came to the suriace three times and splashed about, and seemed in difficulties. Witness saw no person go into the water after the deceased, ihe body was in the water some thirty minutes before being recovered by a Mr Smith, assisted by A. Wallace and 0. J. W'illiams, ail of whom arrived after the drowning William Johnson, farmer, of = Seddon Eoad, Waihou, iJentihed the bodv as that of his son. The Coroner, in returning a verdict of accidentally drowned, said it was extremely unfortunate that none of those present seemed capable of diving under the water or going to the assistance of tne deceased after he had fallen from the wharf.