SAD FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 10

SAD FATALITY.

BOY SAVED FROM DROWNING.

RESCUER DIES IN THE WATER i ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION" FAILS. Mr. Percy AVhite, of Selwyn Street. .Onehunga, lost his life yesterday while endeavouring to save a young boy named Pearce, who fell off the end of Cornwallis wharf in the Manukau Harbour.

! Mr. White was at Cornwallis with the I launch Kalee, to bring back camper? [to Onehunga, and ws.s returning along the wharf to the launch with some children, when young Pearce fell into the water. Without waiting to divest himself of any of his garments Mr. White dived, and was almost immediately in difficulties.

A dinghy put off from the wharf and picked him up. One man in the dinghy took the child, and another caught hold 1 of Mr. White and lifted him out of the water. It is thought that Mr. White must have collapsed in the water, as it,was quite shallow where he went in, and it was almost impossible for him to drown considering the short time he was in the wateT before being rescued. After he had been carried on to the wharf, Nurse Bailey tried artificial resipration for two hours without success. Mr. White, who was 27 years of age, went to the war in 1915, and he got his left knee smashed. It was thought at one time that he would lose his leg, but the , doctors saved it. He was invalided home with a stiff leg, and it was partly owing to this disability that Mr. White was not a strong swimmer. ' An inquest was opened this afternoon ! jfor the identification erf the bodv and 'adjourned to another date.

The boy Pearce was little the worse for his immersion.