BOATING FATALITY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 7 February 1927, Page 10

BOATING FATALITY

TSRBE PEOPLE DROWNED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

HAMILTON, This Day. A triple drowning fatality occurred in the Hamilton Lake last night, when a pleasure boat carrying four occupants capsized. Those . drowned ■ were Annie Kells, aged 20, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kells, of Te Eapa; Ruby Harlowe, aged 22, whose parents reside at Napier; and Trevor Graham, aged 22, a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Graham, of Hamilton. The fourth occupant, George Smith (of Hamilton), was saved by.climbing on to the bottom of the upturned boat.

The fatality occurred at 10.30 p.m., just as the party was about to return to the shed. It seems that the four young people were tempted by the calmness of the water. After they had been rowing and drifting about for some time, Smith suggested that it was time to return. As he and Miss Sells moved to take up the oars the craft overturned without warning, and the f out occupants were shot into the water before they realised what had happened and before they had time to call for help. Smith, the only survivor, as soon as h? found himself at the surface, took ofi his jacket and managed to grasp the edge of the boat. He.states that the other three were also clinging to the side, when their weight pulled the craft upright again, but it turned over for the third time and remained bottom up. By this time Graham and the two girls had disappaered, and Smith, still clinging to the boat, called out for help. About a quarter of an hour later another boat put out and rescued the exhausted surivor. There was no sign of the others, though a search was made. Smith, though not a strong swimmer, was able to take care of himself, while, it is surmised, Mr. Graham, who was a fair swimmer, was probably dragged under by one of the girls. It is not definitely known whether the girls could swim. It is believed that Miss Kells was unable to swim and that she was burdened with fairly heavy clothing and sank immediately she released her hold of the boat.

The tragedy occurred about the centre of the lake, which is being dragged, but the bodies have not yet been' recovered.