PICNIC TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1937, Page 17

PICNIC TRAGEDY

SWAMPING OF DINGHY

VAIN RESCUE EFFORTS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) . ' AUCKLAND, March 24.

Death by drowning was the verdict returned by Mr. F. K. Hunt, Coroner, at the inquest into tire death of Edward James Dunning, aged 24, one of Auckland's best-known young cricketers, who was lost from a dinghy J which swamped in choppy seas as.,a picnic party was returning to a launch at Murray's Bay on the night of March 14. ■ . ...'.-- Evidence xvas given by companions of Dunning, who were also in' the dinghy, and the Coroner congratulated Mr. G. W. ; Ratcliffe on his attempts to rescue Dunning; who was unable to swim. David Aivis Hobbs, grocery manager, said he rowed two boatloads of four, and five persons respectively out to the launch, and there were live on board as he was rowing out for the last. time. When they were about 25 yards from the launch three. waves, which were larger than the others running at the time, filled the dinghy, which was a sound, boat. Dunning was' sitting right forward and witness' and he clung to the dinghy as it swamped,, the other threa swimming out to the launch. .*

"The dinghy overturned several 'times,'/ witness continued; "and when. I asked Dunning if he could swim he told me he" would nofbe able to reach the launch. I held on to him When' the .dinghy: rolled over and., we sank several times. .We were both weakening and the last time I lost.my grip on him Dunning did not struggle but seemed to give up hope.soori after the dinghy sank."

, Garnet Walter Ratcliffe, commercial [traveller^ said- he dived frOm the launch to assist when the dinghy was'swamped. He found Hobbs and Dunging clinging to the boat, both almost exhausted. Witness and Hobbs, who was weakening all the time and sank .twice, paddled with Dunning, who was ;helpless, to within 15 yards of the llaunch. Dunning then sank out' of sight. After carrying oat an unsuccessful search from' the launch they to return to the town and report the matter to the police. ? \

: : "In spite of warnings some' people .will never sit still in' a boat, and this' seems to have been a case in point," said the Coroner, in announcing his '. verdict. ; ... - ..