FELL FROM ROCKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 March 1931, Page 7

FELL FROM ROCKS

FISHERMAN DROWNED

[PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

TAURANGA, February 28

About four o’clock yesterday afternoon the Surf Club siren at Mt. Maunganui called rescuers to Ocean Beach, when it was found that Mr Francis Irwin, aged 75, of 704, Manuka n Road, Royal Oak, who had joined his son’s family from Hamilton fur a holiday, had fallen from the rocks while fishing at. what is known as the Blow Hole on Moturiki Island, close to the beach. There was some delay in getting the reel across the precipitous track so Aubrey Courtenay ran ahead, dived in and caught hold of Irwin. When the party arrived they found Courtenay and Irwin some two hundred yards from the shore. Irwin was unconscious and Courtenay was almost exhausted with fighting the tide rip. Douglas Kimber went out with a life line ami relieved Courtenay of his burden. All three were drawn ashore, Kimber being badly bruised on the rocks. Resuscitation, in which Nurses Brookes and Morris and Miss Herd took a. prominent part, was tried for two hours, when Dr Randell, who had arrived from Te Puke, pronounced life extinct.

The Coroner held an inquest this morning. The body is to be sent to Auckland. Deceased leaves four sons and two (laughters. He was born in Armagh, Ireland, and had resided in Auckland for fifty years.