TWO MEN DROWNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 75, 30 March 1929, Page 10

TWO MEN DROWNED.

FISHING FROM BREAKWATER.

STRUCK BT GREAT WAVE.

NEITHER MAX SEEN AGAIN,

(By Tflo-rrnph.—rross Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday

Two men, who this morning went out to the end of the breakwater in New Plymouth Harbour to fish, were washed away, and were not seen again. They were:—■ Albert Therkleson, engineer, aged 20, a married man with four children. Ernest Edward Thomas, road-roller driver, employed by the. Borough Council, aged about IM), married, with one child. The bodies had not been recovered this evening. The breakwater, which shelters the harbour, is a wide concrete wall jutting nearly half a mile into the sea. This morning heavy seas driven by a westerly wind were crashing over the wa'l at intervals. The two men gained the end of the breakwater by dodging waves. A number of people who saw them realised their danger, hut could do nothing in time to avert disaster. At the extreme end of the wall the men, although drenched, were seen to commence fishing, but within a few minutes a huge wave crashed upon the pier, and swept them both into the seething water. Two boys, who were paddling a canoe in sheltered water, went out and picked up one man's lint. The Harbour Board launch within a few minutes thoroughly searched the locality, but the men were not seen again. Both were experienced fishermen, who knew the harbour well, and many residents who had a full view of the tragedy were amazed at. their daring in attempting to reach the end of the wall. Mr. Thomas, distinguishable by his si/.o from Mr. Therkleson, was seen to bond down as the wave struck the outer side of the wall, and then, as the flying water struck him, he was sent headlong into the foaming water on the harbour side, where it is probable he would strike the ragged rubble flanking the wall. Mr. Therkleson, who v .is standing on the concrete block over the end of the wall, was simply smothered in the frothing wave.