BATHING FATALITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 29 December 1927, Page 5

BATHING FATALITY.

YOUNG LADY DROWNED AT PARITTJTU. BODY NOT YET RECOVERED. While bathing in the sea on tin* southern side of Paritutu, between seven and eight o’clock on Tuesday evening, a young woman named Florence Henchman, 22 years of age, single daughter of (Mr. .John E. Henchman, of Sportswood, was washed out to sea and drowned, and the body had not been recovered yesterday morning, stated the “Taranaki Herald.”

Miss Henchman and her younger bi other, aged 10, and another boy aged 16, went for a bathe at the locality mentioned. -She was not a very experienced swimmer, and it is surmised she got caught in the currents, which are somewhat treacherous at times in that locality. After 'being in the water for some time the two boVs came out first. On turning round to look for Miss ITcnchman, they -observed her floating some distance from the shore. An alarm was at once given, and the Harbour Board’s launch was sent to search the waters in the vicinity where the body was seen, but no trace of the missing lady could be found. The police were notified at a very early hour this morning, and they, with the relatives and friends of Mr. Henchman, organised parties to patrol the beaches along the New Plymouth ivaterfront and southward from Paritutu. At an early hour yesterday afternoon no word had been received from the searchers of their having seen any sign ■ f Miss Henchman’s -body.