LAUNCH SWAMPED

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1940, Page 8

LAUNCH SWAMPED

Fishermen Drowned

AT TAIERI MOUTH

[Per Press Association]. DUNEDIN, April 17

A double drowning tragedy occurred at Taieri Mouth to-day, when the fishing launch “Pansy” owned by Thomas Edward and Robert Tunnage, overturned on the bar. and the two occupants were drowned. The Tunnage brothers, who were the fishermen, were on their way back to the harbour when, at about 1.30 p.m. their craft was struck by a wave as it crossed the bar. It overturned and was swamped. A boat, put out from the shore, but the rescue party could find neither the missing launch nor the two members of the crew. Another fishing launch, coming into the harbour after the “Pansy,” saw the swamped vessel, but there was no sign of the two brothers, and it is certain that they have been drowned, although the bodies have not. yet been recovered.

The tragedy took place at ebb tide. The “Pansy” was a 40-foot fishing smack, powered by a Diesel engine, and, although the sea running at the time was only a moderate one, it is believed that it was an unusual wave that caused the craft to overturn. Both brothers were married, Thomas Edward Tunnage leaving three children, and Robert Tunnage one child.