FISHERMAN DROWNED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 43, 31 July 1939, Page 5

FISHERMAN DROWNED

BOAT UPSET accident in surf at matata I •COMPANION SWIMS TO SHORE Thrown into the sea when their .dinghy capsized off the Tarawera river mouth yesterday. William David Parsons, aged 32, married, of Matata Avas drowned, and Edward Lass, fisherman, only reached shore after a hard struggle which left him exhausted. The body was later washed ashore about a mile from the spot where the fatality took place. Parsons came from Rotorua some four' months ago and opened a fish restaurant at Matata. Lass who is a -single man, aged about 30, and a native of England, fished for him for some time vising hand but the activities of trawlers made this form -of fishing too difficult and some Aveek-; ratrp Parsons purchased a net which in use yesterday.

The accident occurred at about 11.30 a.m. Parsons and Lass were nn. the dinghy and three men Messrs William Warbrick, James Ansell arid D. S. Borrie were attending to the shore end of the net. A fairly heavy surf was running at the time. It was sufficiently bad to deter 1 other Matata people from venturing out to fish, but Parsons and Lass made one pull of 'the net without incident. They had crossed the breakers and were burning to come inshore again when -the boatj struck broadside 011 by a particularly heavy wave which threw it over. Lass was a powerful swimmer and struck out for the shore. He was heard to call ovrt: "Are yon all right, Dave?" and Parsons replied "Yes, I'm following you." PARSONS NOT SEEN TO SINK The shore party wore watching "Lass and did not actually see Parsons disappear but apparently he san;i -almost immediately afterwards. The sea was very cold and Lass had a liard tussle to get 'through the surf. As he nearcd the shore his motes cut. i:he rope off the net and threw it to "him, but it is understood that he struggled out unaided. He was very shaky when he reached safety. It was then seen that Parsons had vanished, but no boats were available -and nothing could be done. Pai'sons Is stated Ito have been a fair swimmer, but he had a bad knee injury which Avas likely to cause cramp. "He had taken his boots off before made the second trip out -through the breakers, but he is said -to have had two singlets and two pullovers on which would tend to -weigh him down. The Whakatane police were advised at 12.30 and Constables H. Hedlev -and F. Fuller went out to Matata. "When they arrived they found that the body had been washed up at two •o'clock about a. mile and a quarter on the Thornton side of the niver mouth. Tt was found by a party includ;ng Mr Cecil Wrathall Mr Dick Hunt and others. The body was "brought into the Whakatane mortuary. An inquest Avill probably be lield to_day. The boat and net had not been recovered last night.