BODY RECOVERED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 80, 28 December 1935, Page 14

BODY RECOVERED

Mountaineer Drowned In Rakaia River FURTHER NEWS OF TRAGEDY By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, December 27. The body of Maxwell Geith Townsend, the well-known Canterbury mountaineer who was swept off his feet and drowned in the Rakaia River at about 1) o’clock yesterday morning, was recovered at 2 o’clock this afternoon by the head shepherd of Lake Heron Station. The body wa s discovered about six miles down stream from where Mr. Townsend entered the river. Further light has been thrown on the tragedy by reports whieh have reached Lake Heron Station, from which the party set out. About 16 men arrived at Lake Heron on Christmas day about midday and immediately set out for the Rakaia down the lake stream. About 13 miles were covered to Thompson’s hut and all the party spent the night there. In the morning all the members of the party went down to the riverbed, which is there about half a mile wide, and covered with large boulders. It was not possible to cross there, so the party went up-river and finally started to cross at the top but, about five miles further up.

Both Mr. Townsend and Mr. W. B. Cullens set out to cross the river without being first roped up. Mr. G. C. T. Burns did not enter the water with them. When the other men were into the stream, each fell and was swept away downstream. Cullens was fortunate in being washed up against a rock and with assistance was brought safely ashore. The current at the place was very swift, and the river very dirty.

The pack was found this afternoon about three or four miles below the top hut. Shortly afterward Mr. McDonald found the body on the edge of the stream about two miles further down. Search parties had left Methven and Christchurch this morning.