Two Boys Die After Cave In Soft Soil Collapses

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 12

Two Boys Die After Cave In Soft Soil Collapses

Two boys, aged 12 and 13, died last evening after a cave they were digging in a silt and clay bank on an island in the Avon river, between Evans avenue and Kibblewhite street, New Brighton, collapsed on them. The boys were:— FRANK RAYMOND MURRAY, aged 12, of 80 Marlow road, Aranui; and PETER EDWARD LEARY, aged 13, of 65 Locksley avenue, Dallington. Leary was buried for about an hour, and Murray for about an hour and 23 minutes.

Children had been digging • cave on the island since Tuesday. About 4.30 pjn. yesterday the two boys were taken to the island byWilliam Townsend, aged 13, of 11 Estuary road. Townsend left the two on the island and went fishing for eels. Soon afterwards Townsend heard cries for help, and on going to the island found that the cave which Murray and Leary were digging had collapsed, burying them both, At this time he could still talk with them. Townsend attempted to dig the boys out, but soon decided to go for help He got in touch with Mr T. Burke, of Kibblewhite street,

who went to the island and started digging. Townsend’s father, Mr E. Townsend, telephoned the New Brighton police at 5.50 pm. Constable M R. Banks, ot the New Brighton police, was taken to the island in a boat by a youth, Barry Brigg*. He arrived at the island at 6.10 p.m., and sent Briggs back to the shore to call an ambulance. The digging was made more difficult because the soft silt and clay collapsed still further every time some was removed. In spite of this, Constable Banks extricated Leary at 6.30 pm. Shortly after this Murray’s father, Mr R H. Murray, ar-

rived. He assisted Constable Banks in applying artificial respiration to Leary.

By this time other residents in the area had arrived to assist Murray was dug out at 6.53 p.m. Men of the St. John Ambulance Brigade assisted with the digging, and Dr. D. J. Patterson administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and gave oxygen. Sergeant D. Bailey and Sergeant J. M. MacDonald also gave assistance at the scene About 7 p.m. a motor-boat owned by Mr D. Briggs went to the island td bring the boys back. The distance from the island to the landtagstage is about half a mile When the boat left, several residents in the Evans avenue area prepared hot water bags to await the boat’s return. The boat returned about 7.30 p.m and the boys were taken in an ambulance to the Christchurch Hospital, where they were found to be dead.

Artificial respiration was applied to the boys from the time they were taken from the collapsed cave until they arrived at the hospital. Sergeant D M Bailey, of the Christchurch police, paid a tribute to the residents in the area who had assisted They had been of considerable assistance and had done all they could, he said.