DEATH FROM EXPOSURE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 61, 10 September 1945, Page 6

DEATH FROM EXPOSURE

FATAL FISHING TRIP

A seven-year-old boy, Alan Richardson, 90 Richmond Street, Petone, died from shock and exposure after a 12ft dinghy capsized off Somes Island yesterday afternoon. The boy was one of a party of six who had left Petone at midday on a fishing expedition. The other occupants of the boat, who suffered from exposure, were:—Mr. Leonard Barlow. 338 High Street. Lower Hutt; Mr. Robert Kerr, 24 Riddler's Crescent, Lower Hutt; Mr. Patrick Roe, 11 Plunket Avenue, Lower Hutt; Owen Richardson, aged 10. 90 Richmond Street, Petone; Mr. Edward Richardson, father of Owen and Alan Richardson.

There was a strong wind and a choppy sea when the party left the Petone Beach for Somes Island. At about 1 p.m. the dinghy was seen to capsize some 200 yards off Leper Island and the police launch was immediately sent to the scene. One of the men swam from the dinghy to Leper Island and on to Somes Island for assistance.

When the police arrived they found the party lying on the sail of the dinghy and suffering from exposure. The younger boy showed no signs of life. The occupants were taken to Somes Island for medical assistance, and then to the Petone Wharf. Artificial respiration was applied to the boy in the launch and later in the ambulance while he was being taken to the Hutt Hospital, but there was no response. The other members of the party received treatment at the hospital and, were able to return to their homes, except Owen Richardson, whose condition today was reported to be satisfactory.