LEO SIMPSON DROWNED

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27795, 21 October 1955, Page 14

LEO SIMPSON DROWNED

NOTED MOTOR ' CYCLIST SPEEDBOAT SINKS IN LAKE (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 20. A man who made an international reputation for himself as a racing motor-cyclist and represented New Zealand several times in Britain was drowned in a small lake behind Kawerau late this afternoon. He was: Leo Simpson, a garage proprietor, married. with two young children, of Edgecumbe. Mr Simpson was testing a speedboat on the lake, accompanied by the owner of the craft, Mr S. W. Yardley. The beat seemed to be about to sink, and both men jumped overboard. They struck out for the shore about 300 yards away. When Mr Yardley reached the shore Mr Simpson was missing. Police recovered the body tonight in thick weed about 20 yards from the shqre in 17 feet of water. A speedboat race meeting which was to be held on the lake over the Labour Day week-end has been cancelled. WORKMAN INJURES HIP Mr A. Piless, of 501 St. Asaph street, suffered an injury to his hip while working at Scott Brothers. Ltd., 65 Manchester street, yesterday. Mr Piless was pulling a hand truck when the,.handle broke, and he fell on to the corner of a box in the sheet metal shop. He was taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital by a St. John ambulance, and admitted at 9.45 a.m. Last evening he was reported to be comfortable.