WOMAN’S CRIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1933, Page 9

WOMAN’S CRIES

WOULD-BE RESCUER DROWNED.

CANVEY ISLAND, September 8. Allegations that the screams of a woman bather misled her son. into thinking she was drowning were made at an inquest here to-day by the mother of Robert Jack Fleming, 18, of Nor-folk-road, Upminster, who was drowned at Dead Man’s Bay. James Berry, who was bathing with Fleming, said that a young _ woman called for help, but when Fleming w’ent to her aid she said that she was all right While near the woman Fleming was washed off his feet and disappeared. , Mrs. Fanny Roberts, of Maida Vale, the woman mentioned, said that she was floating on a tyre when the current carried her out. She called out and bathers pulled her ashore. She then saw Fleming going under and called out “There’s a man drowning, but people did not seem to believe her. , Mrs. Fleming: That was because you had been screaming all day. They were misled. . Mrs. Roberts denied this, saying that she had been in the water only fifteen minutes. Atfer the coroner had returned a vercdict of accidental death, Mis. Fleming said: “I think he was misled. Everyone was misled by this woman s screaming.” Tho coroner: You must not say that.