FATALITY IN LAUNCH MISHAP

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 12

FATALITY IN LAUNCH MISHAP

Married Man Drowned WASHED OVERBOARD OFF MANAWATU HEADS When the crew of the fishing launch which was disabled off the Manawatu Heads on Sunday afternoon returned to Parapataumu yesterday, they reported that one of their number, Mr. C. Laird, farm hand, Linton, had been washed overboard and drowned. The launch was caught by a big wave when attempting to enter the Manawatu River-mouth, and Mr.. Laird, a married man, was swept overboard. The engine was stopped, and, as it was impossible to cross the bar and they had not sufficient petrol to reach Kapiti, they anchored offshore. Later they were picked up by a launch from Kapiti, manned by Mr. K. Webber, a farmer on the island, and Mr. A. 8. Wilkinson, caretaker of the bird sanctuary. As the crew of the launch was stated to have signalled “0.K.” to inquiries signalled in morse from the shore, no hint of the tragedy was suspected until they returned to Paraparaumu yesterday. The men had had a terrifying experience and were loud in their praise of the seamanship and courage of their rescuers. The rescue boat managed to get alongside at high water and took off all except Mr. Smith, who steered the vessel in tow. Kapiti was reached at 4 a.m. after a battle against the southerly. The party was swamped later when landing near Paraparaumu, but all managed to get ashore safely.