WOMAN'S FATE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 27, 1 February 1945, Page 2

WOMAN'S FATE

DROWNING AT KAREKARE NO LIFE-SAVING FACILITIES The absence of life-saving facilities at Karekare Beach, on the West Coast, was commented upon by a witness and also by the coroner, Mr. Alfred Addison, yesterday afternoon at the inquest concerning the death of Miss Euialie Purdom, aged 25, of George Street, Mount Eden, who was drowned while bathing at Karekare on December 27.

The Auckland Surf Life-Saving Association was represented by Mr. R. H. Mackay.

After detailing the efforts made by the Piha Surf Life-Saving Club to rescue the young woman, Mr. Thomas Henry Pearce, a member of the club and Piha delegate to the Auckland association, said Miss Purdom was found, but efforts to resuscitate her failed. He said Karekare Surf Life-Saving Club was in recess for the duration of the war and there was no effective control of the beach. The life-saving reel was rusted and could not be used and the surf-ski was kept on the trustee's premises about half-a-mile from the beach. Witness said the association was very perturbed at the position. A special meeting following the fatality was called to discuss the question but the Karekare trustee, who was asked to attend, was not present. The Piha club answered several rescue calls to Karekare over the past few years.

Miss Purdom and others were swimming in the most dangerous part of the beach. Bathers naturally bathed in front of the look-out tower. While this tower might have been in the correct position originally it now faced the most dangerous part of the beach, the aspect of which had been changed by the action of a creek.

In returning a verdict of accidental drowning, the coroner said the safeguarding of public beaches was most important. It was clear that while Karekare Beach was well patronised there were no proper life-saving facilities. Mr. Addison commended the Piha Club, which stood by for calls for Karekare. It was comforting to know the association was anxious to take steps to have Karekare patrolled.