DANGEROUS BEACH

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 62, 7 December 1926, Page 10

DANGEROUS BEACH

PROMINENT SPORTSMAN DROWNED

COMPANIONS’ GREAT EFFORTS AT RESCUE Dominion Special. Dunedin, December 6. The inquest was concluded tb-day before Mr. .J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., into the circumstances of the death of Henry Stephen Baker, the well-known local cricketer and footballer, who lost his life whilst bathing at Smaill’s Beach on Sunday,. November 7; The evidence at. the inquiry revealed that deceased’s companions ' made magnificent efforts to rescue their friend, and several of them were almost drowned in. going out repeatedly into the treacherous current. A young woman named Sheila Neilson also displayed great bravery, and her efforts, along with " those, of. her male companions, were commended by the Coroner. An unpleasant. feature commented Upon by the Coroner was the fact that several of those who were not members of deceased’s party apparently .allowed Miss Neilson to struggle with the rope ,as best she could when the rescue operations from the shore end became a little more risky than they bad been. "This is one of the sad fatalities that will happen from time to time,” commented the Coroner, “and only emphasises that this beach is a dangerous one, particularly for good, swimmers.” The Coroner pointed out that there had been several fatalities at this spot in recent years, all the victims being good swimmers. This was due to the fact that a swimmer Was tempted to go out too far, whilst a non-swimmer only paddied about. The Coroner referred to the attempts that had been made by members of. the partv to rescue the deceased. “I would like to commend their great efforts,” he said. “They conducted themselves bravely indeed, and carried on until the limits of exhaustion. T would like to commend in particular the activities of the young woman who assisted in the operations with the water tip to her shoulders. The only unpleasant feature.” added the .Coroner, “was the fact that some of the bystanders had not given much assistance. It is not very pleasing to record this fact. It is very regrettable that although a girl is seen to be standing un to her shoulders in water holding a rope with three men at the other end of it, nothing was done by some of the bvstanders.” A verdict was returned to the effect that deceased met his death by being accidentally drowned on November 7 last.