"GAVE UP HOPE."

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10511, 15 February 1928, Page 6

"GAVE UP HOPE."

V; BATHER’S SAD FATE. NAVAL MEN"LOMM ENDED. ‘fl desire to express commendation of the 1 action of tlie seaman and their immediate resource n going t.j the man’s rescue,” said the Coroner, iVtik E. C. Letr/ey S.M. after mv( * ligating the drowning tragedy on Waikana'e Beach on Mommy evening when Chrtpian Tange I nm-.i/en, a visitor to town from Tadmpe, Jos; , riis life/. Called to the beach by ’phone, ])r. Kahlenborg said he found the man lying on the sand apparently dead. He applied artificial respiration measures' for half an hour, assisted Jatpr by Dr. Bowie. W hen n formed of the circumstances he was rf tho opinion that Lauritzen, who. was a man of about 50, became tired out in tfie water when in difficulties and was drowned. ; When the Senr-Sorgeant pointed out that evidence would be adduced that Lauritzen was' altve when brought ashore, the coroner ordered a postmortem .examination to ascertain the cause of/loath. ‘‘The work being done to revive the man when lie arrived was most creditable to all concerned, pmticulariy the men of the Diomede,’ - added the doctor. Mrs E. H. Lauritzen, deceased’s wife, who, with her husband had been swimming at Waikanae beach, stated she lutcr returned to the pavilion and dressed, and some time Inter she was informed that her husband had been drowned. Her husband was a native of Denmark, aged forty-nine, and they were visiting her mother in Whataupoko. Jhs general health had been gootk tie was not a strong swimmer. 'There was no family. About twenty minutes after she dressed her Husband was brought ashore and she was sarisfied everything possible was done to revive him. To the Coroner she stated that, although her husband had complained of pains in his side at various times, he assumed it was only a passing elfeet.. He had undergone a medical examination about a year ago when his heart was pronounced sound. A.IU Seaman Harold Chadwick, oi H.M.S. Diomede, said he was swim. >mng with a number of other seamen off the foreshore about 13 p.m. "i heard a cry from the beach, and, realising some one was in d.ffieuliics, [ made for the spot pointed out to me, ’ he proceeded, '’Reaching there I found ill' l.auiitzen was just about finished; and just before I readied him lie seemed to give tip hope, threw up his hands, and sank below the surface. He apparently lost consciousness anti all J could do was to hold his head above the water to the best of my ability. When 1 started nut for the man, Officers’ Steward Smith and a civilian was with me, but half way out the civilian went back for assistance. Smith and J managed to keep Mr Lauritzen up until someone brought out the lifeline and a surf board. We set tired the man on top of the board and signalled the people on shore to haul in. On the way to the shore J.: uritzen appeared to be alive, out was unconscious.” The undertow was very strong this being evident to witness on account of the short time it took him to reach the drowning man, and he considered a weak swimmer would have had difficulty in keeping inshore. Officers’ Steward .Rupert Smith, of H.M.S. Diomede, corroborated the details of his companion’s story. A.B. Seaman Stanley Soars, of H.M.S. Diomede, stated be rescued a boy who was also in difficulties at the.time, and after bringing the lad ashore,' assisted others in carrying Mr Lauritzen from the surf board to the sand. There ho proceeded - with artificial respiration on the hotly under the direction of a young woman who appeared to know the propei methods. When Mr Lauritzen was first laid on the beach ho was alive, and moved his right arm, but Jib never moved again. Everything possible was done to revive the man, but without avail, and in this respect he congratulated a young woman, who, though not. strong enough to do anything herself, took charge and volunteered the necessary information until the doctors arrived. The inquest was then adjourned until the following day to receive the doctor’s report on the post mortem examination.