KAWHIA TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 9, 11 January 1929, Page 8

KAWHIA TRAGEDY.

HEROIC EFFORTS AT RESCUE. CORONER PATS TRIBUTE. SECOND BODY NOT RECOVERED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) KAWHIA, this day. A verdict of accidental drowning was returned by the coroner (Mr. F. W. Platts, S.M.i, at the inquest on the body of Thomas Bielby Dillicar, aged 50, a well-known Hamilton resident, who, with Clarence Hunter, aged 19. son of the late Dr. Hunter, of Te Awamutu. lost his life on Wednesday afternoon in endeavouring to rescue bathers, who were in difficulties. The body of Clarence Hunter has not yet been recovered. The coroner said that Mr. Dillicar. having rescued two boys from drowning. then proceeded to help his two companions who were in danger, and in attempting to save them he lost his own life. The coroner commended the action of the girls who assisted in saving the life of lan Selby. aged I.>, of Kihikihi. As reported yesterday the two deceased were members of a holiday party iwhich had proceeded by launch to the heads. The majority of the men remained fishing while the others walked along the shore toward the springs. After bathing in the spring* the bathers took a plunge in the surf. Observing that two boy< wore in trouble. Mr. Dillicar. the youth Hunter and lan Selby went to their rescue. Mr. Dillicar had no sooner brought the boys ashore in an exhausted state than on looking out toward the breakers he saw that Hunter and Selby, were in danger. Mr. Dillicar went to the assistance of his companions. At the same time a living chain was formed by Mr. B. A. Winter, of Mangatapu. and Misses P. and K. English. A. and M. McNicol, G. Innes and M. Chesterman, of Hamilton and M. Mandeno. of Te Awamutu. Those in the chain tried hard to rescue Hunter, but the girls at the end could not quite reach him before he sank. They then rescued Selby, who was secured just in time. Meanwhile. Mr. Dillicar, in his exhausted state, was unable to contend the undertow, and disappeared.