MAN’S DEATH BY DROWNING

Press, Volume C, Issue 29610, 5 September 1961, Page 17

MAN’S DEATH BY DROWNING

Inquest Held At Kailcoura

Finding that Noel Ashton Ching, of Nelson, had died from asphyxiation from drowning at Goose Bay, Kaikoura, on August 20, the coroner, Mr H. J. Hayward, J.P., said that the attention of the public should be drawn to the necessity of wearing a life-belt when taking a small boat into the open sea and also the danger of wearing guimboots under similar conditions. Rex Ward, a marine engineer, of Nelson, told the coroner that Frank Capptollo, Tony Cappiello and Ching and himself had arrived at Goose Bay on August 18 about 3 p.m. They intended to spend the day at Goose Bay ; and then travel to Christchurch for the third Rugby test. At dusk the party had set some crayfish pots of Goose Bay using a dinghy to take the pots out to sea. The next day the party tad gone to the Rugby and them returned to Goose Bay. At 8.30 am. on Sunday Ching decided to recover the crayfish pots by himself.

Ward said that when Ching, who had taken the dinghy, was about a chain from the shore, a large wave hit the dinghy and Ching was thrown into the sea. He floated for a moment and then disappeared. Constable I. N. Snowden gave evidence that the sea was very rough at that time and it was impossible to carry out dragging operations. The body was found eventually on September 2.