CRICKETER’S DEATH BY DROWNING

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 153, 25 March 1937, Page 13

CRICKETER’S DEATH BY DROWNING

Verdict at Inquest RESCUE EFFORT PRAISED By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, March 24. Death bv drowning was the verdict returned by Mr. F. K. Hunt, coroner, «Tt the inquest into the death of Edward James Dunning, aged 24, one of Auckland’s best-known young cricketers, who was lost from a dinghy which swamped in choppy seas as a picnic party- was returning to a launch at Murray’s Bay on the night of March 14.

Evidence was given by companions of Dunning, who were also in the dinghy, and the coroner congratulated Mr. G. W. Ratcliffe on libs attempts to rescue Dunning, who was unable to swim.

David Alvis Hobbs, grocery manager said he rowed two boatloads of four and five persons respectively out to the launch, and there were five on board as he was rowing out for the last time. When they were about 25 yards from the launch, three waves, which were larger than the others running at the time, filled the dinghy, which was a sound boat. Dunning was sitting right forward and witness and he clung to the dinghy as ti swamped, the other three swimming out to the launch. “The dinghy overturned several times,” witness continued, “and when I asked Dunning if he could swim he told me he would not be able to reach the launch. I held on to him when the dinghv rolled over and we sank several times." We were both weakening and the last time I lost my grip on him Dunning did not struggle but seemed to give up hope soon after the dinghy sank.”

Garnet Walter Ratcliffe, commercial traveller, sai dbe dived from the launch to assist when the dinghy was swamped. He found Hobbs and Dunning clinging to the boat, both almost exhausted. Witness and Hobbs, who was weakening all the time, and sank twice, paddled with Dunning ,ho was helpless, to within 15 yards of the launch. Dunning then sank out of sight. After carrying out an unsuccessful search from the launch they decided to return to the town and report the matter to the police. “In spite, of warnings some people will never sit still in a boat, and this seems to have been a case in point,” said the coroner in announcing his verdict.