TWO DROWNED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 143, 14 December 1942, Page 3

TWO DROWNED

TRAGEDY NEAR COLLEGE

VAIN RESCUE ATTEMPTS

A young man and a boy were drowned at about 7.30 p.m. on Saturday in the Silverstream Creek where it passes through the grounds of St. Patrick's College. They were Mr. Ernest Berry, aged U t of Nelson, who was studying for the Catholic priesthood, and John Edward Davies, aged 14, of 25 Rugby Street, Wellington. Mr. Berry, who was visiting Wellington, was asked to take charge of a party of Boy Scouts who were camped in the college grounds. Davies was bathing' in the stream when he got into difficulties with weeds. Mr. Berry and the rector of the college, the Rev Father J. Kennedy, at once went to his assistance together, but both were soon in difficulties themselves with the weeds, and Mr. Berry was drowned. After a struggle Father Kennedy regained the bank and he immediately organised members of the college staff and of the, farm staff to recover the bodies. He had called for assistance before going into the creek himself, and had also sent for Dr. R. D. Morrow, of Upper Hutt, who was quickly on the scene. Artificial respiration was tried on the bodies of Davies and Mr. Berry until abput 10 o'clock, without success. Silverstream residents avoid the creek as a bathing place as they say it is dangerous because of weeds, holes, and the coldness of the water.