DANGER SPOTS ON BEACH

Evening Star, Issue 19779, 1 February 1928, Page 4

DANGER SPOTS ON BEACH

THE SURF FATALITY VALIANT ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE COMMENDED The grave risk of bathers going oft by themselves to dangerous spots on the beach was referred to by the coroner (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) at the inquest held at the morgue this morning on the body of Meredith Norman Nesbit, aged seventeen years, who was drowned in the surf near the St. Clair Baths on Monday evening. The Coroner complimented two brothers named Duckworth and a young man named Fraser for their attempts to rescue the deceased.

Sergeant M'Entee represented the police. James William Nesbit, father of deceased, gave evidence of identification. His late son was a fair swimmer, and could do two or three lengths or the baths. The boy was in the habit of undressing in the baths, and going into the baths or the surf. He worked at the Telegraph Office, and was qualifying to bo an operator. Robert Francis Duckworth, bank clerk, said his brother and he were having a swim in the baths, when someone on the balcony of the baths sheds said there was man in difficulties in the water. The man appeared to bo in the water at the end of the baths and towards the second beach. Both witness and his brother swam out, but could see no sign of the deceased. Anyone who was not a good swimmer would not have a chance at this point, as there was a very strong current, which seemed to go out towards White Island, and there was also the danger of being washed into the thick kelp. Witness did not know how deceased entered the water. He was told by someone that deceased disappeared just after witness and his brother cot into the water to attempt a rescue.

Benjamin Bradley Fraser, warehouseman. said ho was in the Life Saving Club’s shed when he was told someone was in trouble in the water. Witness went down to the beach,_ and saw Duckworth coming out. Witness went out with the belt on, but could see no sign of deceased. A strong current struck the point at the baths, and. swept straight out to sea. Constable Schruffor stated that at 7 p.m. it was reported to him that someone had been drowned in the surf. .He went to the baths, .where the caretaker pointed out a suit of clothes. A search was maintained till 11 p.m., and was resumed at 5 a.in. next day. _ Witness went on to describe the finding of •the body after 9 o’clock, and stated it was washed out from some kelp by the waves. There were wounds on the head, and a few bruises about the face. The body was removed to the morgue. Sergeant M ( Entce remarked that deceased’s false teeth were missing, and said they had probably come out when he was struggling in the water. The Coronor said it was a very distressing fatality. There was no evidence to show how the young man got into such a dangerous spot as where ho met with his death. The evidence clearly showed, however, how dangerous the place was, and showed that it was a place to be avoided,.as apparently it usually was, by bathers. Conditions were such at the beach- it had been emphasised often before, and was further stressed by the present case—that, if the public bathed in the recognised locality between the flags and along with the'crowd, there was practically no danger in bathing. Fatalities such as the present occurred through bathers going oft by themselves t) spots which turned out to be dangerous. Every credit was duo to the "Duckworth brothers and to Fraser for their unavailing attempts to rescue the deceased. , . , ~ A verdict was returned that cleatn was duo to accidental drowning.