DROWNED IN SURF.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 256, 29 October 1929, Page 8

DROWNED IN SURF.

YOUNG AUCKLANDER.

DIFFICULTIES NOT NOTICED,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI, this day,

Robert Henry Bretnall, a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Bretnall, of 358, Mount Eden Road, Auckland, was drowned while surf-bathing at Ruakaka yesterday.

With a friend, Mr. Campbell McLean, Bretnall was swimming in the surf while the ceremony of opening the bridge to the Ruakaka Domain was taking place, out of sight a quarter of a mile away. McLean went out beyond the breakers, but, feeling cold and observing a fairly strong undertow, he swam back to the beach. He called to his companion, who responded by holding up his hand. Bretnall was then swimming about 75 yards from the shore, well within his depth. Considering everything to be safe, McLean went back to where their clothes lay on a log further down the beach. Some ladies who had been watching the pair in the water asked him where his friend was, and McLean was surprised to learn that Bretnall had not come out. He hastened back, but there was no sign of Bretnall.

The report that a man was missing soon reached the gathering at the bridge, where the opening ceremony had just ended. Search parties were organised with ropes, and the beach was patrolled, without result.

A small party who remained at the beach while the bridge was being opened said that they saw a man floating with his arm up, apparently in difficulties, out beyond the breakers, but before anything could be done he disappeared. All the settlers on the coast have been notified of the happening, and the Waipu police have been searching the beach since daylight this morning.

Bretnall was a skilled musician, and besides being a teacher of the violin he was organist at the Presbyterian Church, and played as leading violin in the local picture theatre orchestra.