ACCIDENTS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27010, 9 April 1953, Page 8

ACCIDENTS

ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH RE6CUED FROM SEA AT NEW BRIGHTON An elderly man, seen early yesterday afternoon on the New Brighton pier, and soon afterwards in the water, was found to be dead when he was rescued and dragged to the shore a few minutes later. He was: -Tames Smith Vial, aged 87. a retired hotelkeeper, of Ashburton. Mr Vial was seen on the pier, about 1 P.m.. and shortly afterwards was seen m the water by Mr C. F. Hoyle, proprietor of the pier, and Mr Pat Knight, of Estuary road, New Brighton. They stripped off and went to Mr Vial’s rescue. Constable R. G. Carson, stationed at N ?w Brighton, arrived at the beach within five minutes, and he found Messrs Hoyle and Knight on the shore applying artificial respiration. Dr I Mcllrov arrived later, and said that. Mr Vial was dead. , “ T j} ose two men deserve full credit tor tneir spontaneous action.” said Constable Carson. “If Mr Vial had possessed a sound heart he would have been saved by the two men. It was a H£ ea ‘ : effort on their part.” The weather was bitterly cold at the time. An inauest will be opened this morning.