BATHER KILLED

Grey River Argus, 4 January 1946, Page 4

BATHER KILLED

APPARENTLY STRUCK BY .LIGHTNING. P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 3. Mervyn Lloyd Candy, a married man, aged 35 years, residing at Mersey Street, St. Albans, was killed when bathing at North Brighton Beach to-day, apparently through being struck by lightning. Mr. Candy, who was spending his holidays with his wife at New Brighton, went bathing at about two o’clock in the afternoon with Mr. A. T. Dalton, President of the North .Brighton Surf Club, and, Mr. S. Nicholls, another member of the Club. When they were about one hundred yards from the shore there was a terrific flash of lightning, and a crash of thunder, which left Mr. Dalton and Mr. Nicholls dazed. As they reached the beach they noticed a signal that a bather was in difficulties and that a team of Surf Club members was taking to the water. Dazed as they were by the shock, they thought that Mr. Candy was following them to the shore. They returned to the water and almost immediately found the body and'brought it to the shore. An ambulance arrived shortly afterwards and the body was taken to the morgue.

Spectators on the beach said that they plainly saw the lightning strike Mr. Candy on the head, but Wheq. the body was brought to land there was no sign of injury or burning as might have been expected. Many people spending the day on the beach felt a severe shock when the lightning struck, and the North Beach Surf Club pavilion shook and rattled. Men who had recently returned with the fighting forces described the noise as that similar to heavy rifle or machine-gun fire. Mr. Candy was a strong swimmer and a regular surf bather. He was a breast stroke swimmer of championship standard, was a member of the Elmwood Swimming Club for many years, and a member of the present committee of the Club.- He was also a valuable member of Sumner Surf Club teams a few years ago. An inquest will open to-morrow.