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SURFING TRAGEDY

TOLL OF THE BEACH YOUNG MAN DROWNED AT ST. CLAfR The surf at St. Clair Beach claimed another victim last evening to add to its already big toll, a drowning fatality occurring in the water near the St. Clair Baths. Tho victim was Meredith Norman Neshit. seventeen years of age. who resided with his parents at 11 Market street. Deceased left home at about a quarter past 6 to join a party which intended to have a bathe in the surf. The other members of the party, however, did not arrive, and deceased went into the water by himself. It was a little after half-past (3 that the alarm was raised, and that deceased was seen to he in difficulties in the water alongside the bathsi He hart undressed in the sheds at the baths, and, though it is not known if anyone actually saw him enter the water, it is surmised that he went into the surf from the rocks at tho side of the baths, where there is a dangerous current and much kelp. When the young fellow was seen to bo in trouble, another young man named Duckworth made an effort to go to him, hut, good swimmer though he is, he found the place too dangerous, and had to relinquish his attempt at rescue. Several others who made tho attempt also had to give it up. In tho meantime the body of deceased had disappeared. A call was made for the surf club’s reel and life-line, but it had to be brought down from the shed and carried along to the end of the beach. Members of the surf club acted promptly, and the man with the belt inado splendid time in getting out in a difficult sea. All efforts' however, were vain, and nothing could bo seen of tho body, which, it was thought, had become entangled in the kelp. If or several hours afterwards Constable Schruffer and others maintained a lookout, but when darkness set in the hods’ had not come ashore. About half-past 9 this morning Constable Schuffer and two young fellows were on the look-out again. The constable stationed himself on the face of the hill, and the others were on the rocks at tho side of the baths. Before long there was a call from one of the young men that he had seen 'the body underneath the kelp. It disappeared again for a moment, but then came into view, and was brought ashore to bo identified later by the father. Deceased, who was able to swim, was employed in the operating room of the Telegraph Office at Dunedin, and would have been eighteen years of age in May of this year. He was frequently in the water at St. Clair. His father is Mr J. W. Neshit, a teacher at the Moray Place School. The Coroner (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.), has been informed, and an inquest is to be held. The drowning of this unfortunate lad should again emphasise the danger of bathers going into the surf except in the recognised place towards the Jett of the esplanade. It was only on Sunday that another bather got into difficulties in the water at the side of the baths, and had to be assisted in. At this particular place there is a dangerous current, and a largo quantity of kelp. Even if a strong swimmer, anyone caught in the kelp would he fairly helpless.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19280131.2.72

Bibliographic details

Evening Star, Issue 19778, 31 January 1928, Page 6

Word Count
576

SURFING TRAGEDY Evening Star, Issue 19778, 31 January 1928, Page 6

SURFING TRAGEDY Evening Star, Issue 19778, 31 January 1928, Page 6