TWO MEN DROWNED

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 51, 1 March 1934, Page 13

TWO MEN DROWNED

KNOCKED OVER BY WAVE

ONE VICTIM NOT FOUND

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, February 28. Swept off their feet by a heavy wave while crossing a shallow lagoon at the mouth of the Waiau River, about seven miles north of Waitara, today, two men, Messrs. R. Llewellyn Powell, aged 29, ana K. Bedford, both of Motunui, were drowned. Mr. Powell was a second cousin of Lady Bledisloe. Mr* Powell's body was recovered after a search of about two hours and a half, but though a large- force of local residents patrolled the beach, no sign of Mr. Bedford's body .was seen. The two men, fully dressed, were wading across the lagoon, \ which was about 2 feet deep, to a leef stretching into the sea, in search of shellfish. They were about half-way across when a large, wave bore down on. them, knocking them over. ' The swift current quickly drew them under, and both were.lost,to sight. . Mr. Powell's wife, with two bther women, was on the beach, and though efforts were made to reach the two' men, they were unavailing. • '.' ; Help was summoned immediately, and, Messrs. Imxton and .Boss attempted to find the. victims. After a watch of two hours and' a half Mr. PowelL's body,was found-washed up on the beach about 20 chains northward of the spot where he disappeared. Miss D. Newton, of Urenui, tried artificial respiration for about an hour, but her efforts were unsuccessful; Mr. Bedford worked for Mr. Powell on the latter's farm. . Mr. Powell was an English public Schoolboy who came to New Zealand about 1927. He was married, with two children. Both men were wellknown members' of the'Taranaki Hunt Club. . '.■■■'.'. ■'