DROWNING ACCIDENT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 10358, 22 April 1930, Page 3

DROWNING ACCIDENT

Life Lost in Wairoa River. CORONER’S VERDICT. A sporting trip by three young men—Messrs L. Entwistle, S. J. Smith and K. Whitworth—had a sad ending on Easter Sunday. They were out deer stalking in the Tauriko district and Messrs Entwistle and Whitworth proceeded to swim across the Wairoa River at a point about three miles from the old Tauriko sawmill. The former w r as in the lead and -was almost across when he heard hia companion call out and then disappear. Mr Entwistle swam back, but could not find any trace of Mr Whitworth. Mr Smith, the other member of the party, was not in the vicinlty.at the time. Messrs Entwistle and Smith proceeded to town immediately and advised the police of the occurrence. Constables Davies and Moore went out and dragged the river until darkness set in. The search was resumed on Easter Monday, the body being recovered about 9.30 a.m.

The late Mr Kenneth Whitworth was very popular with all who knew him. He was a member of the Tauranga District High School Rugby fifteen—which had a splendid record for a long period—and he played with the team until the end of last season. He was a good- runner and swimmer and took a very active part in all the sports activities of the High School. After leaving school he joined the staff of Mr P. W. Allen’s establishment. The funeral will take place at two o’clock to-morrow afternoon. The late Mr K. Whitworth was a Corporal in the Tauranga Cadets and the Company will parade at the cemetery in uniform at two o’clock. The greatest sympathy will be extended to Mr and Mrs H. Whitworth and family in’ their bereavement. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Kenneth Whitworth was held at the courthouse this morning, before Mr A. F. Tunks (coroner). Constable Skinner represented the police. Harry Whitworth, the father of deceased, stated that his son left home early on Sunday morning to accompany L. Entwistle and S. Smith on a day’s outing. Deceased was a strong healthy boy and his age was seventeen years five months. He was a good swimmer. Witness was present when the body was recovered from the Wairoa River about 9.30 on Monday morning, and identified it as that of his son.

Leslie Entwistle deposed that about 4.45 a.m. on Sunday last, Kenneth Whitworth, Sydney J. Smith and witness went out to Mr Price’s farm at the Ruahihi bridge on the Wairoa River. They went deer stalking. They all worked over the Kaimai Range. They travelled from Kaimai to Doidge’s farm at Tauriko. Smith then separated from Whitworth and witness. Smith proceeded back to the car,by a track which he knew. Whitworth and witness followed a ridge which ran above the Wairoa River. After they had travelled some distance the country became so dense that Whitworth remarked to witness that he was tired pushing through the scrub and he thought he would swim across the river to the road. He also remarked that they were both good swimmers, so witness agreed to give it a go. Both walked down to the edge of the rivex*. Whitworth had his trousers, shirt, cardigan and boots on. He was also cax-rying a school bag and a pair of binoculars In a leather case. He placed the binoculars in the school bag and strapped the bag on top of his head to avoid getting them wet. Witness was fully dressed and had a rifle and twenty rounds of ammunition. Witness set off first, carrying the rifle out of the water with his left hand, and was swimming on his right side with his right arm. When witness was about half-way across the river he looked round and saw Whitworth, who was swimming and was a few yards away from the bank. He smiled and nodded his head, indicating that he was all right. He had both his arms free, and witness then noticed the school bag on top of his head. Witness continued on and when he was about five or six yards from the opposite bank he heard Whitworth cry out for help. Witness dropped the rifle he was carrying and turned back but immediately h& turned back he saw Whitworth thi’ow up his arms and disappear. When he flung up his arms witness did not notice the school bag on top of his head. Witness contin-ued-on to the spot where Whitworth disappeared but did not see any sign of him. As witness was fully clothed it took him some time to get back to the spot where Whitworth had disappeared. Witness swam round until he was almost exhausted, and then swam ashore, .took off his clothes, axxd swam back again. When he went back that time a very heavy shower of rain came on and made it impossible to see more than a few yards ahead on the river. Witness swam round until he realised that it was futile and that there was npthing further he could do. He returned to the bank, put his clothes on, and then went to where the car was parked. Smith was in the car. Both then returned to the x’iyer and searched around, but were unable to see any trace of anything. They then drove straight to the police station and reported the matter. The Wairoa River is a tidal river, and when witness exxtered it the tide appeared to be full in and on the turn. When witness was swimming across he did j not feel any current. Witness went across very slowly and did not have j to exert himself very much to get aci'oss. Whitworth was quite as good a swimmer as witness, but before entering the water both had been perspiring freely from their long tramp, i The water was- fairly cold and in wit- ; ness’s opinion cramp is the only ex- j planatiou of Whitworth’s disappearance.

Doctor L. Handell, in his statement, said that he examined the body of deceased on Monday morning. There were no marks of violence on the body except a small superficial bruise on the right upper eyelid. Witness had no hesitation in stating that the cause of death was asphyxiation by drowning. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased met his death by accidental drowning while swimming the Wairoa River on April 20. The Coroner expressed the sympathy of the Court Avith the parents and relatives in their bereat'ement.