FISHERMAN DROWNED

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1933, Page 5

FISHERMAN DROWNED

Fatality Off Coromandel RESUSCITATION FAILS (per Press Association). AUCKLAND, June 14. While he was assisting in fishing operations on an Auckland launch off t'oromandel Peninsula, a young man, named Leonard Henry Peterson, whose parents reside -at Mount Eden, was dragged overboard by a rope and drowned. Peterson was a member of the crew of the Clifton, owned by G. 11. Knaggs of Auckland. The third member of the crew wa s Edward Flavell. At the time of the accident, the nion had eommencod operations, ami Peterson i was standing on the starboard side paying out the dragrope which was attached to the net. The weather was line, while only a medium sea was running. Suddenly Peterson called out that his foot had been caught in the rope, and Flavell, who was at the controls immediately stopped the engine, to ease the drag on the- line while Knaggs left the wheel ami went to assist, the deceased. He had just seized him. when the rope dragged both of them overboard, Knaggs being pulled oyer the* side by Peterson. As soon as the others went overboard. Flavell reversed the engine and backed the launch towards them. Knaggs was assisted aboard and the two mon then hauled in the drag-ropo, which had run out with Peterson for forty-five feet. When he was brought aboard the rope was tightly wound round his right ankle. The rope was cut. with the loss of several hundred feet of rope and the net As soon as thp- deceased was lifted aboard. Knaggs and Flavell commenced restorative measures for two hours without success. They then sailed for Quarry Rock to obtain a doctor. On the journey artificial restoration was continued for another hour, but it was then seen that further efforts were hopeless. A verdict of accidental drowning was returned at the inquest.