TWO DROWNED.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19862, 25 February 1930, Page 13

TWO DROWNED.

BOAT SINKS IN ROUGH SEA. TRAGEDY AT W AIMAK ARIRI MOUTH. While trawling iu the Waimakariri river near Brooklands at 9.30 on Sunday evening, two Christchurch men were drowned during the gale which sprang up suddenly. They were:— John McLenaghan, aged 51, a married man, living at 14 Sonierfield street, Spreydou. Hurtle Fisher, aged 53, a married man, living at 371 River road, Richmond. Together with Messrs John Douglas McLenaghan -(a son of John McLenaghan), C. Smart, andi JBassett, who were in another boat, the two men . had set out at about 7.30 to trawl on the Kuiraki side of the river. After three trawls had been made a strong gale blew up, and it was decided to discontinue aad return to Brooklands. McLenaghan and Fisher were fully clothed and in gumboots, • and because McLenaghan was the most experienced of the party he took th<j metal punt, the other three following in the larger ordinary boat. The members of the party arranged to keep in touch in case of difficulty, but in the pitch darkness this was impossible, arid by the* time they .had travelled .fifty yards the boats were separated. Suddenly the larger boat was almost upset by a wave, and at the same time shouts were heard from the other boat. The party in the larger boat tried to reach it, but it could not be seen, and their own boat was half-full of water, the three men being exhausted with rowing. They could find no trace of the other boat or of its occupants. When the shore was reached Mr Douglas McLenaghan wanted to swim out to see. what he could do, but.he was dissuaded in view of the conditions. A search was made along the banks, and this was continued yesterday morning; with the assistance of-the Kaiapoi, Belfast, and New Brighton police. The boat and net were found yesterday morning bv. the police, and. the oars and net-board were found on the sandspit ■at North New Brighton. It is believed that Mr Fisher was unable to swim, while Mr McLenaghan, though a strong swimmer, would be handicapped by his gum-boots. The search for the bodies was continued during the day, but up to a late hour last evening nothing further had been discovered. Mr Fisher was a keen gardener, and recently won the MeLeod Challenge Cup for the best Quarter-acre garden in Richmond district. Mr. J. McLenaghan,-who was an experienced fisherman, was formerly a resident of Akaroa.