THREE MEN MISSING

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 284, 28 August 1935, Page 10

THREE MEN MISSING

Believed Drowned In Waikawa Estuary

OVERTURNED BOAT FOUND

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Invercargill, August 27.

Three young men, Frederick Wybrow (single), aged 2G, a labourer, Percy Wyborn, 18, a fisherman, of Waikawa, and George Mcßurney, 2-4, a shop assistant, who was on holiday, are believed to have been drown in the Waikawa estuary on Monday, afternoon. They went on a pleasure cruise in a dinghy, which has since been found overturned. There is no trace of the occupants. No one witnessed the accident, but it is supposed that the dinghy capsized in rough water. t Search for the missing men was continued throughout the day, but without success. It will be resumed to-morrow morning. No hope is entertained that the occupants of the boat succeeded in reaching shore. The boat was a 12-foot dinghy equipped with oars and a detachable and sail.

Those who are familiar with the estuary and tbe vagaries of wind and tide presume that the boat capsized when it was being turned for home in the channel about two miles from the wharf. It is not improbable that the struggling men would have become entangled in the ropes, rigging and sail. Percy Wybrow was a strong swimmer, but the fact that he was wearing gumboots would handicap him severely. Frederick Wybrow was not a good swimmer, and Mcßurney was not in the best of health. The rough water and fierce tide would in any case have made it extremely difficult for a swimmer to reach shore. Mcßurney was a prominent crosscountry runner and hurdler, and also played hockey and association football. Percy Wybrow was a promising axeman.