ONE OF THREE DROWNED

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 31 January 1933, Page 5

ONE OF THREE DROWNED

SAILING BOAT CAPSIZED. AUCKLAND HARBOUR TRAGEDY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 30. One man was drowned and two others had a narrow escape from drowning when a boat in which they were sailing on the harbour capsized. The victim of the accident was John E'clwin Russell, aged about 34. the only son of Mr. E. R. N. Russell, a leading solicitor of Auckland. He was a married man with two children. The accident occurred off the eastern cliff at the northern end of Eastern bench, just beyond Bucklqnds Beach. The boat was about a quarter of a mile from the shore. Mr. Russell, with his wife and family, was visiting his father-in-law, Mr. Robert Burns, at Howic-k. With two companions, Messrs Trevor Kissling, Parnell, and L. Packenham, he went out in a 14. t sailing boat, the accident occurring between 2.30' and J p.m. Alter they had been out about two hours north-easterly weather •.vas experienced on the harbour,- sweeping into the locality and making the water rough. The boat was overturned and the occupants were thrown into the water. Ihey clung to the craft, but it sank within a few minutes. Mr. Russell could swim, although he was not a strong swimmer and the opinion was expressed that he might have been hurt when the boat overturned or else have become caught in the sail. Two young men on the beach, Messrs Alfred Stirrup and Eric Nelson, saw Mr. Kissling swimming to the shore, which lie had almost readied when they plunged into the water with their clothes on and brought him safely to shore. He was practically overcome with exhaustion. Mr Packenham was picked up by a sailing boat and taken to Howick. The"body of Mr. Russell has not yet been recovered.