LAUNCH TRAGEDY

Grey River Argus, 21 June 1944, Page 6

LAUNCH TRAGEDY

RESCUE EFFORTS CRITICISED.

DUNEDIN, June 20.

There was criticism by Dr. Campbell at a meeting of the Port Chai- ' mers Council of the allegedly inadequate efforts made to rescue two Port fishermen, Sydney Bensley and John Guyton, who were drowned off the coast near Akaroa’, after drifting three days in heavy seas. Dr. Campbell said it seemed that local fishermen should have gone out after their fellows. In contrast to the local failure, three boats went out from Timaru in most unfavourable conditions. He couldn’t under-, stand why the Navy Department at Lyttelton didn’t send out a boat when it was reported that the fishermen had been sighted by a plane, but failed to pick up the canisters of food dropped. It was tragic that these men were only a few miles from the coast, yet no help was sent. The Mayor (Mr. H. S. Watson), giving the reason why he didn’t organise a search, stated it was understood that the Port Chalmers fishermen volunteered to go out and the responsibility was then taken over by a Government department. It was hoped, he said that an inquiry would be held and the facts investigated. I