TRAGIC PICNIC

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1936, Page 3

TRAGIC PICNIC

* THREE. PEOPLE DROWNED

SYDNEY, April 30,

/” Members of three generations of one family—grandfather, mother and daughter—filet death by drowning in tragic circumstances in the Namoi River, at Therriori station, near Harparary. The ’grandfather and mother lost their lives in trying to save the daughter, a child. Other members of the family' yvere ‘nearly drowned in attempts at rescue.

\Those drowned were: —Grace Iris Riordon, aged 13-; Mrs'Ethel Riordon, aged 37, of Kelvin, mother of the girl; find Air Jbhfi' Morrison, aged 78, of Gunnedah. The girl’s father,' Air David Riordon, and the grandmother, Mrs Morrison, were saved. i The party : went to the river, for a picnic and a day’s fishing! Late in the day, Grace fell from‘the bank into the river. Seeing her daughter struggling, Mrs Riordon dashed iiito the Avater, although she;could not swim.-Mrs Riordon got into difficulties and her father ■went to her aid. The three Avere struggling 'when Mrs Morrison jumped in. The father, who Avas- fishing close by, heard the cries for help, and he, .too, dashed to . the rescue. None of them could sAvim. • ’ i-

The five were in the Avater when other members of the .party ran to the scene. They brought Airs Riordon, her husband and the grandmother, to the shore. Treatment was-applied to them, hut Mrs. Riordoq died, a-few minutes after she avus, brougbtvfrom the water. The bodies of.Mr Morrison ;an<F the girl .were not recQvered f<urCsomeati'me/il|lrsF Aiorrisqiy.Avas' in ofjcollapse [for liojjrs. Aft ,R.iordqii|’fatlierj refused r leqyqffJhfta scene j o|, : , the 'trageftj. untj|,,Fhe jhqdjq&qweiia recovered. ' . .., .. -. '• t «