HARBOUR FATALITY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 90, 10 January 1919, Page 6

HARBOUR FATALITY

BOY DROWNED AT RAILWAY WHARF

j FATHER HAS NARROW ESCAPE

i" ,r,-A. tragic; .drowning accident occurred ! --'at'-the Railway ;Wharf last evening. ! 'TKe'yictiuiwas a schoolboy named' John. son of MrY D. Stephens,,of the ; 'Kelburn Dairy, Upland Road. i Mr.' Stephens and his three sons were ! fishing at the 'end of the Railway Wharf |.'.' at about 6 p.m';,' when some other boys i came-on the scene and commenced "skyi larking." The boy John Stephens, who i : was about ten years old, was landing !''■ on;the extreme'edge-of tho wharf, and : by some means or other he was precipii - feted 1 into the'water. It is alleged that i * .T'he''wa9 accidentally pushed by another J boy -whoso flame, has not yet been as- '■ certained. ;.. ' . The deceased was unable to swim, and ;-.-. the instant he fell.into the water his 5 father jumped in to his rescue/ TJnfor- / ; tunately, Mr. Stephens is not o swimi" 'iner either, and he very soon found himself .': in difficulties. 'There were not many people about at the time, but the ! cries for help which were raised were i heard by-Mr. John Smythei keeper of the !" hulk, Adderley, and a man-o'-warsman .named Albert. Edward Moorhouse, who

is.i'-gunner on tlie transport Ulimaroa./ They promotly hastened to tho rescue/ ! ' '■ and Mr. Smythe threw o, line to. Mr. '.' Stephens-, whq was clinging to y. stringer. -'~-'Meanwhile Gunner Moorhouse noticed ':■■-'"tlie body of the boy como to the surface, i hnd he dived in, and recovered it. Arfci- !,:'.-" ficial means of respiration were tried, '■: and Dr. Young.and the police were sum- ! , tnoned.'■'■: Although (he efforts at resusj.-- citation were employed fcr seme considv '. "eiable time, the boy did not rally, and | Dr. Young could only pronounce life to !■; be.extinct. The body was 'afterwards ;■' .reniovelJ to the morgue. :,..;- In attempting to rescue his son Mr i'- .Stephens had a very narrow escape from ;-' -drowning, and •he was thoroughly exI hausted when ' brought back to the

I Cwha'rf. _.'•-. . j ■ An inquirv into the circumstances of 1 .the fatality will be held by the coroner.