DROWNED IN RIVER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 56, Issue 32874, 25 June 1947, Page 8

DROWNED IN RIVER

FATALITY AT WHITIANGA CAPSIZE OF DINGHY BOATMAN LOSES HIS LIFE A drowning accident occurred at Whitianga at about half-past six on Friday. The victim was:— Mr Steve Suhor, aged 65, single, of Whitianga. Known to local residents and visitors from all over the country as “ Steve,” he had lived in Whitianga for about 47 years. He was a licenced boat-man, being the owner of the launch “ Renown.” On Friday he took a party out fishing, returning and landing the visitors on the Whitianga wharf a little before 6.30 p.m. A heavy gale was blowing at' the time and a high sea was running. One of the party, a Mr W. Glenn, of Stratford, stayed on board the launch to accompany it a further 600 yards up the river to the anchorage. Although there was a strong tide running, the two men successfully moored the launch. After cleaning the .boat down Mr Suhor manoeuvred the dinghy around the side of the cokpit and got into it. It was a very small boat and was held by Mr Glenn. The men were then about 100 yards away from the shore.

When Mr Suhor called to Mr Glenn to let go, both he and the dinghy, which was nearly loaded with fish, were swept away into the darkness, leaving Mr Glenn in the moored launch, unable to get ashore for help, or to run the boat. Both Mr Glenn and Mr Suhor called for help. Mr A. E. White, who lives on the river, about half-a-mile from the moorings, heard cries for help and he ran down to put his boat out but by this time the cries had ceased and Mr White did not know where they had come from. It was pitch dark by this time. He immediately notified the police and Constable Tucker organised a search party which left Whitianga by 7 p.m. Messrs Clark Bros, used a searchlight on their launch “ Norma ” and Messrs L. R. and G. Dale went out in their outboard, but when the search was temporarily abandoned at midnight, there was no trace of the missing man or his dinghy. The search was resumed at an early hour Saturday morning and just be-

fore mid-day an overturned ■dinghy was found about three miles up the river. On Sunday afternoon, June 22, Mr G. G. Lee of Whitianga found the body on the mudflats about two miles upstream in the Kaimarama branch of the river.

An inquest was held on Monday before Mr J. Hamilton, district coroner. A verdict of accidental drowning was returned.

Mr Suhor was an Austrian by birth and had lived in Whitianga for 47 years. He was regarded as being a very reliable and capable launchman, but, strangely enough, could not swim.