WAIAU TRAGEDY.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 26, 2 March 1932, Page 5

WAIAU TRAGEDY.

BOMBAY FARMER DROWNED.

WHILE SPEARING FLOUNDER

BEARINGS LOST

FALL INTO DEEP WATER

FUTILE SEARCH FOR BODY. A well-known Bombay farmer*.' .Mi' Leslie John Fletcher, aged 30 years, lost his life through drowning on Sunday night about 10 o’clock when spearing flounder off Clark’s Beach, Waiau P^.

It. appears that Mr Fletcher, who was camping at the beach with his wife, and two children, and his sister-in-law, Mrs Harold Fletcher, left the bach on Sunday evening and waded out some distance in shallow water. At this arm of the Manukau, the tide goes out for a considerable distance and it was soon after it started to flow in that the two people found themselves in difficulties. Those who have had experience in flat fishing know that it is quite a simple matter to lose one’s bearings especially when surrounded water unless one is conversant with the surroundings. Experienced people usually take their bearings by some distinguishing mark, or light on shore. This Mr Fletcher did, but it is said he overlooked one point and that was that a clump of scrub intervened between a light he left on a table outside the bach, and himself, and finally was obscured. It was while endeavouring to pick up his bearings that he, and his companion, became lost and got into deep water in the channel. Three lights on the Pollok side led them into trouble. Every time they made efforts, to get back to shore, the water became deeper.

Mrs Harold Fletcher, it is said, cried out for help, and Mrs L. J. Fletcher, hearing her call out left the bach and waved a lamp. This Mrs Harold Fletcher saw and she was able to make the shore safely. In the meantime Mr Fletcher had disappeared. At the time of the tragedy the party had between 40 and 50 flounder.

About midnight the Pukekohe police were advised of the tragedy and Constables C. W. Powell and Sutherland commenced dragging operations at left immediately for the scene. They once and continued this throughout Monday but were unsuccessful in locating the body. Sergeant J. T v Cowan and Constable Powell condragging from a launch but their efforts were resultless.

To-day Mr Fletcher’s relatives were engaged in a search for the body.

Deceased’s Hat Found.

,On Monday the deceased’s hat was fovi%d. on the beach inside the bay near the Waiau Pa Wharf. It had been in the water. This discovery led the police to believe that the drowning took place in a position other than injJipaAed to them. The Pukekohe police have made arrangements for a special look out to be kept by shipping and residents who reside on the shores of the Manukau while the Waiuku police are conducting a search on the Waiuku side of the channel.

Dragging operations were carried out under difficulties, the work in some of the deep holes in the channel being particularly arduous.

It appears that the accident took place some distance out towards the left of the beach proper.

A well-known settler of Waiau Pa recalls an incident which was experienced by a party of eight or nine men many years ago at a time when Onehunga was not as brilliantly lighted as it is to-day. The party set out to the right of Clarke’s point and had been flat fishing for some hours. The tide was making rapidly and the water was becoming deeper all round. At length the party decided to make for shore ■and picked out some lights which they thought, if followed, would lead them to safety. On and on they waded until each step took them to deeper water. One of the party said “This 5s no good to me,” and he made off in another direction and after going about dOO yards found the water getting shallower. He called to his companions and they turned about and followed. In a short time shore was reachad safely. Prior to making the about luijn the party was heading for Onehunga. They were men of experience. This incident proves that it is a very simple matter to lose one’s bearing's when surrounded by water ; at night time.