LAKE FERRY DROWNING

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1934, Page 12

LAKE FERRY DROWNING

YOUNG MAN COLLAPSES

GIRLS' GALLANT RESCUE ATTEMPT

(By Telegraph) (Special to the "Evening Post.") MASTERTON, This Day. Montague Tocker, a well-known and popular' young Masterton man, lost his lifo at Lake Perry within thirty yards of the shore yesterday. Valiant but unsuccessful efforts to rescue the drowning man were made by Misses Z. and D. Pickering, of Lansdowne, who went fully clothed to his assistance. Tocker was a member of a Masterton party which was engaged in netting flounders in the lake. At about 3.30 p.m. the punt belonging to the party was seen to be drifting away from the shore. Tocker, who was a strong swimmer, decided to swim out and recover it. He was in his bathing suit, and the water was bitterly cold. When he entered, the water the wind had carried the boat about forty yards from the shore. All went well until he was within five or six'yards of his objective. He then cried out for help and turned and headed for the shore. He had gone only about five yards when ho was seen to be in serious difficulties.

Miss Z. Pickering immediately plunged into the icy water, and she was followed quickly by her sister. Both girls are good swimmers. Miss Z. Pickering was the first to reach Tocker, who was in a state of collapse. Displaying great pluck and^ endurance, the two young ladies managed to "struggle -with the drowning man to within about thirty yards of the beach. At that stage both ladies were dragged under twice. Weakened by their efforts, and hampered by their clothes and the coldness of the water, they had to release their hold on Tocker, who disappeared and was not seen again. ... The ladies reached : land with considerable difficulty, and were in a state of exhaustion when they were assisted from the water. • None of the male members, of the party could swim. ' Apparently Tocker was seized with cramp and collapsed quickly, as ho did not speak when Miss Pickering first reached him. The body was recovered ;by a party in charge of Constable Sleoth at about 7 p.m. It was in eight or nine feet of water just about where it was last seen ■ . ■