BOY'S TRAGIC DEATH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17985, 31 January 1924, Page 7

BOY'S TRAGIC DEATH.

PALLS SEVENTY FEET ©VER ; , CLIFF.' FATHER'S TERRIBLE ORDEAL. A shocking fatality occurred near Karekare, on the West Coast, at 6.30 o'clock on Friday evening, when the 14-year-old only son of ■Mr W. It. F. Free; supervisor of the Telegraph Department at Auckland, was killed through falling down the cliffs before the eyes of his father (says the Auckland "Herald"). Mr Free and his son,- Frederick Henry Free, had Been camping at Piha, and on Friday afternoon round tho coast to Mercer Bay, which'is one of the .most inaccessible spots in the neighbourhood, situated between Piha and Karekare. The cliffs at Mercer Bay rise in some instances from 500 ft to 6COft sheer above the water, forming a most formidable obstacle to the aaventurous climber. • Mr Free and the boy started the descent of the precipitous 'cliffs,-"and- had reached within 70ft of the watery when it is presumed that tho boy was overtaken by giddi-. ness. He suddenly tell backwards and crashed to the rocks below, where he lay in 6ft of water. -It was subset quently. ascertained that he sustained a broken neck and injured shoulder, death being instantaneous, _ An agonising experience followed for Mr Fred. Wit-n great nsk he descended the remaining VOft of-.almost pundicular can and niaue desperate *itempts to recover the body, a task thai involved no little danger,, on account of the treacherous nature of the rocks and the depth of water which covered the body. After almost two hoars of ceaseless effort he succeeded in bringing the body to the surf ace and dracaing it up the difficult rock slope to a place of safety above high-water mark, the oncoming darkness prolongin" the task and rendering it doubiy dangerous. He re,ascended the cliffs in complete darkness and made h»-S£? to the nearest neighbours, who noubed the police at Avondale of the occurrence. . , , Oonsiable Hennckson proceeded to the scene of the fatality early on Safcuruay morning, in company with Mr Free, and tue Dody was removed from its resting place on the ledge of the cliff and taken to the top, after much difficulty. It was conveyed later to Auckland. The cliffs at Mercer Bay are noted for their precipitous nature. Both Mx Free and his son had undertaken a good deal of climbing together, and the, lad was particularly strong and, alert. He was a pupil o? the jtfoun€ Albert Grammar School, and vras 5 member of St. Luke's Church, Mount Albert.