"I'M DONE!"

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 16, 20 January 1939, Page 3

"I'M DONE!"

DINGHY CAPSIZES. MAN DROWNED IN GULF. I COMPANIONS COMPLIMENTED. "I would like to compliment the witnesses, Raymond Tuoliey, Lawrence Buckley and Benjamin Muller, on the effort* they made to save the deceased, particularly the efforts made by Tuoliey," said the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, to-day, when returning: a verdict of accidental drowning at an inquest held into the death of Arthur Vernon Wood, leadburner. who was drowned in Islington Bay on December 20. He was a mairied man, 45 years of age, and was employed at a chemical works at Westfield. Together with Buckley, Tuoliey and Muller, he left Auckland 011 December •25 in the launch The Comrade for a fortnight's cruise in the Hauraki Gulf. Next morning they were in Islington Bay and had decided to go ashore 111 a dinghy. The sea was choppy, and the dinghy, shipping a sea, swamped and overturned. "I pulled Wood 011 to the keel of the dinghy." said Tuoliey 111 evidence. "I asked him if he could swim, and when he said he could not, I told him to liang on to the keel and that with the help" of the wind Muller and I would propel the dinghy ashore. I held Wood on to the keel 'for 10 or 1"> minutes, but the dinghy turned over twice and Wood got panicky and started to struggle and throw Ills arms about. Mnlicr. who has a wooden leg, at this time said: 'I'm done; I will have to go for my life.' H l * then swain ashore. "About five minutes later," said Tuoliey, "Wood *aid. 'I'm done; I think I'm gone.' Wood then gave two groans, lapsed into unconsciousness or death, slipped off the keel and disappeared beneath the dinghy." Witness said he was exhausted and could not render any further assistance, so made for the launch about .">0 yards away. The ; )o,lv of Wood was later recovered under the dinghy. Witness thought he was dead when he slipped from the boat. Ile had probably died from heart failure.