MAORI BOY DROWNED

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 9

MAORI BOY DROWNED

Manawatu River Tragedy By Telegraph—Press Association. Levin, April 4. When bathing in the Manawatu River yesterday afternoon, near the Whirokino bridge Nepia Tamihana, aged 17, .was drowned. In company witli other youths he had swum about 75 yards to the centre of the river. After resting on a bridge pile he returned to the shore, lie was then persuaded by a younger brother to accompany him out to the bridge pile. At the time the tide was on ebb and the river was flowing fairly fast. The pair had covered about 50 yards when the deceased found the second trip too much for him, while the younger brother was carried down river by'the current. They called for assistance, and a youth, Eric Jones, dived and reached the younger boy. Together they were carried about 200 yards down the river toward the bank, and assisted from the water. . In the meantime Nepia Tamihana had disappeared. His elder brother dived in a number of times, but could find no trace of him. The body had not been recovered this morning.