DROWNING FATALITY

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1918, Page 8

DROWNING FATALITY

AT HAPPY VALLEY BAY.

'A' sad fatality occurred at Happy Valley Bay yesterday afternoon, when a young man named David O'Sullivan met his death by drowning while swimming a horse in the breakers. For about a fortnight O'Sullivan-had been endeavouring to swim a horse in the hope that by this means he would be able to right an injury to one of the animal's shoulders, which had been dislocated. About 1.30 p.m. yesterday, in company with another man, he went to Happy Valley^ Bay to make another attempt to : induce the animal to enter the water. \ His companion had a horse, which was used to the water, to act as a lead. The' tide was high at the time, the sea was rough, and a strong wind was, blowing. Both horses went into the sea, and,' after swimming about for a time, were! returned to the beach. O'Sullivan then went out again, riding the second horse/ but got into difficulties, and either lost his balance or was washed off the animal's back.-'He was unable to swim, and in'his struggles managed to grab his horse's head and held on desperately. Neither horse nor rider reached shallow water, and both were drowned. The carcase of the horse was washed ashore during; the afternoon, but so far the body of the deceased has not been recovered.

O'Sullivan, who was in the employ of Mr. Timothy Herlihy, carrier, of Island Bay, was in camp some little time' ago, but was discharged owing to the fact that he was subject tol cramp. He re- : sided at No. 18, Eden-street, Island Bay, and had no relatives in New Zealand except an aunt, Mrs. Murray, wife of Constable Murray, of Gisborne. An inquest will be held when O'Sullivan's body is recovered.