CAR ROLLS INTO LAKE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30004, 13 December 1962, Page 16

CAR ROLLS INTO LAKE

Driver Killed In S. Westland (N.Z. Press Association) GREYMOUTH, December 12 The body of a man whose utility vehicle plunged into Lake Wahapo. South Westland. at 8 a.m. today, was recovered about 4.30 p.m. He was Peter Frank King, aged 46. a National Park ranger, married, with two children. of Franz Josef Glacier. The body was recovered from the car in 50ft of water by a Greymouth skin-diver, Mr C. Dalziel. The officer-in-charge of the area, Constable S. D. F. Reid, of Whataroa. said Mr Dalziel recovered the body on his second dive, and was in the murky water on the last occasion for over five minutes before bringing the body to the surface. The vehicle was seen to go into the water of the deep lake by the driver of a New Zealand Railways truck, which was going north. According to Constable Reid, the truck was negotiating a slight bend beside the lake when the driver noticed the utility vehicle approaching

Mr King braked hard, and the vehicle slewed over from the bank-side of the road in the direction of the lake. It rolled over the bank into the lake.

Mr King had a distinguished military career, beginning when he joined the Scots Guards at 16. At the outbreak of the Second World War he joined Lord Lovat’s commandos, and took part in the raid on Dieppe. He also took part in a two-man raid against installations in enemyoccupied Norway. Coming to New Zealand in 1945, Mr King joined the New Zealand Army, and left with the advance party for Korea From 1956 to 1959 he was a United Nations observer in Kashmir, and in 1960 he was appointed the first ranger for the newly-formed South Westland National Park Mr King won the D.S.O. in Korea, and the Military Cross at Arnhem. He was awarded a bar to his D. 5.0., which was presented by the Queen during her visit to New Zealand in 1953-54. Mr King is survived by his wife and two infant children