PAROA DROWNING

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1940, Page 4

PAROA DROWNING

INQUEST AND VERDICT An inquest concerning the death of Cyril Kenneth Partridge, aged 19, single, a trucker, of Greymouth, who was drowned at Paroa, on Sunday, waS held yesterday afternoon, before the Coroner, Mr. G. G. Chisholm. Senior Sergeant G. F. Bonisch conducted proceedings for the police. - • Stanley Douglas Partridge, a labourer, and a brother of deceased, said that deceased was 19 years of age and re-, sided with his mother and family at 66 Marlborough Street. At approximately 1.30 p.m. on Sunday, witness, in company with deceased and two other young men left Greymouth to go to Flaherty’s Pool, at Paroa, for a swim, arriving about 2 p.m. They all entered the water with the exception of deceased, who remained on the bank. Witness remained in the water for about 20 minutes and then sat on the bank near deceased, who asked if he could swim across to the opposite side of the pool. Witness replied that he could if he went further up, where the water was shallower. Deceased then entered the water and commenced to swim across the pool in the direction witness had indicated. Witness watched him swimming until he was almost across, and was in deep water. Witness looked away for a few seconds, and when he looked again, saw that deceased appeared to be in difficulties. Pie was throwing his arms about aimlessly, but witness did not heai’ him call out. He then disappeared under the water. Witness called for assistance, and a large number of bathers came to the scene. Deceased did not appear on the surface of the water again, and a number of bathers commenced diving to find him, in the dirty brownish-col-oured water. Deceased was eventually recovered from the water by a man named Boswell. He had then been in the water for about half an hour. Artificial respiration was applied until Dr. Greenslade arrived, and was continued for some time after his arrival. As far as witness knew, deceased had been in good health. To the Coroner: Deceased could swim a little, but not very much. The only thing witness could account for the position that deceased was in, taken in relation to where witness had. told him to cross, was that he had tried to turn round and come back. Jack Lambert Boswell, residing at 23 Kilgour Road, Greymouth, said that he had been swimming at the pool for about 30 minutes and was sitting on the sea side with his friend when he noticed other people congregating about 20 yards away. He had previously heard a faint call for help. At first he thought it was some skylarking but after a few moments he realised that something serious had happened. Witness then saw some persons leaving the water, one being assisted, and he thought that this was the cause of the alarm. He then sat down again. He then learned that someone was still in the water. Some of the bathers were endeavouring to find the body. Witness swam to a place indicated by other bathers. He dived to the bottom, recovered the body and brought it to the surface. He was assisted to take it on shore. Artificial respiration was applied and kept up until Dr. Greenslade arrived, and was then continued for some time. Witness would say that deceased was in the water for about 20 minutes before being recovered. At the place, the water was about ten feet deep. Senior Sergeant Bonisch said that he proceeded to the pool, as the result of a telephone message at 3.1 b n m and on arrival saw the body ol a young man lying on the beach near the swimming pool, known as Flaherty’s pool Dr. Greenslade was present and artificial respiration was being applied under his direction. This treatment was continued till about 4 p.m. when Dr. Greenslade decided that further treatment was unnecessary as life was extinct. Dr N. F. Greenslade said that he was called to the pool at about 3.15 p.m. and on arrival found the body of a young man, who had recently been taken from the water. Artificial respiration was being administered. Witness made a hurried examination of the body but could find no signs _of respiration or circulation. Witness carried on artificial respiration and supervised its continuance till approximately 4 p.m. No signs of life had been elicited up till that time and life was extinct. The cause of death was drowning. . . The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally drowned, while bathing in Flaherty s Pool, Paroa, on December 1, 1940.