TWO BOYS DROWNED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 5

TWO BOYS DROWNED

ANOTHER RESCUED*

TRAGEDY AT DANGER SPOT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, January 18,

Two boys were drowned at Okain's Bay, Bankjs Peninsula, this afternoon. The tragedy occurred in a*large hole in a tidal creek which runs into the sea on the north side of the beach and which is 10 to 12 feet deep and rockbriiind on the west side. The creek water forms "a whirlpool and it is known to be a dangerous place. The. boys were Desmond Henry Bruce Spurr, aged 10, son of Mr, and Mrs. Arthur Henry Spurr, of Okain's Bayy and Peter Ross Ingley Mason, aged 5, son of Mr. . and Mrs. Colin Mason, Okain's Bay.

A third boy, Brian Spurr, aged 7, brother of the boy drowned, was rescued from the hole by David Stanley MacLeriaghan, aged 13, a Christchurch. boy staying with the Spurr family. . The four, boys, accompanied by a fifth small boy, went to the beach on bicycles and their footmarks showed that they crossed the creek where there was- shallow water above the hole. Apparently the boys got into the hole and into difficulties. Three of them were in the water andMacLenaghan managed to pull out* Brian Spurr and then attempted to save Desmond Spurr. He made two attempts without success and then ran 'along the beach to give the alarm to Mr. J. H. Sproston, Christchurch, and Mr. H. C. Mason,.Okain's Bay.

v The two men motored along the beach, dived in and secured Peter Mason, but it was 20 minutes before Desmond. Spurr was taken from the water< as he was lodged under a rock at the bottom of the pool. There was a large number of people on the beach, campers and residents, and resuscitation was immediately applied. A message was sent.to Dr. W. J. Edginton, Akaroa, and accompanied by Constable C. Dalbeth, Akaroa, and Constable C/.R. Haack, Little River, he reached the beach as soon as possible. When they arrived resuscitation was again attempted, but after three hours all hope was given up. ■

BOY'S BODY FOUND

!;> lf.:eir?if.r.~" i-i7'ss A«?<u<iaTirVn.> . DUNEDIN, January 18. ~Se body of Edward McCallum, a "ySmall boy who was last seen on Friday bathing in the surf near the rocks that line McKechnie's Beach, Kaha Point, was washed up near the mouth of the Molyneux River, where^ it was discovered today by two young men, who communicated with the police in Balclutha; The boy was the third youngest of a family of 12. J