LAGOON TRAGEDY.

Grey River Argus, 14 January 1928, Page 7

LAGOON TRAGEDY.

Child Drowned at Preston Road. The lagoon yesterday afternoon was the scene of a drowning accident in the vicinity of Preston Road, the victim being a little girl, four years of age, Mary O’Connor. She had been playing round during the afternoon around her home, and was missed about 4.15 o’clock. A search for her was then made, and about 5 o’clock her mother, Mrs. O’Connor, of Preston Road, noticed the body lying out in the lagoon area below high water mark,'and her call attracted Mr. Leach, a neighbour, who for an hour and a half previously had been working in the near vicinity, but had heard or seen nothing of the child. On proceeding to the spot he found the child’s body, which bore no marks of injury, and was lying where the water at high tide (which was at 3.36 p.m.) would have been no more than a foot in depth. Nobody had seen the child go near the water, and the body was found at least eight feet from the deeper part of the lagoon. It was conjectured that she might have fallen asleep and been drowned by the rising tide, but their theory would not seem to explain the circumstances of the tragedy. Dr. McKay was summoned, and on arrival shortly after the body -was found he applied artificial respiration measures, but these were without any effect. An inquest will be held to-day at 10.30 a.m.