DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 6

DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

BOYS DROWNED.

SWIMMING IN TIDAL CREEK. THIRD WAS RESCUED. (Dy —Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Two boys wero drowned at Okain's Bay, Banks IVninsuia, this afternoon. The tragedy occurred in a large hole in a tidttl creek which runs, into the sea on the north side of the beach. On tho west side of the creek the water forme a whirljtocl ami it. is known to be a dangerous pool. The victims were:— Desmond Henry Bruce Spurr, aged 10. sou of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Henry Spurr, of Okain's Bay. Peter Ross Ingley Mason, aged five, *ou of Mr. and Mrs. Coliu Mason, of Okain's Bay. A third boy, Brmn Spurr, aged seven, brother of the boy drowned was rescued from the hole by David Stanley MacLenaghan, aged 13, a CShristchurch. boy etaying with the Spurr family. The four boys, accompanied by a fifth small boy, went to the 'beach on bicycles and their footmarks showed that they had crossed the creek where there wus shallow water above the hole. Apparently, the boys soon got into the hola and into difficulties. Attempts at Rescue. Three of the boys were in the water and MacLenaghan managed to pull out Brian Spurr and then attempted to eave Desmond Spurr. He made two attempts, without success and then ian along the beacli to give the alarm to Mr. .J. If. Sproston, of Christehurch, and Mr. H. C. Mason, of Okain's Bay.

The two nii-u motored along tli« beacli and dived in and recovered Peter Mason's body, but it was 20 minutes before Desmond Spurr'e bady was t«ken from the water, as it was lodged under a rock at the bottom of the pool.

There was a large number of people on the beach, and resuscitation was immediately applied. A message was also sent to Dr. W. J. Edginton, Akaroa, and accompanied by Constable C. Dalbeth, Akaroa, and Constable C. R. Haack, Little River, he reached the i>each ae soon as possible. When they arrived resuscitation was again attempted, but after three hours all hope was given up.