MANY VICTIMS OF SUMMER DEATH

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3248, 19 January 1926, Page 7

MANY VICTIMS OF SUMMER DEATH

Double Brownings During Week-end DISTRESSING FATALITY ON WAIKATO RIVER [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Last Night. A distressing fatality occurred in the Waikato river near the TuakauOnowhero bridge yesterday morning, resulting in the death by drowning of Hazel Lapwood, aged 18 years and Beryl Lapwood, aged 15 years, daughters of Mr and Mrs G. S. Lapwood, of Tuakau. The two girls and a brother aged 11 years, and a cousin aged 15 years were paddling on a sandbank when Hazel and Beryl stepped over the ledge into deep water. Neither was able to swim and the treacherous current carried them down stream out of sight. An alarm was raised by their two companions, and a search party was organised along the bank, and by a launch, the bodies wore recovered at midday. TWO DOUBLE DEATHS, FATAL ATTEMPT TO SAVE LIFE. MASTERTON, Last Night. A double drowning tragedy, involving the sacrifice by a soldier settler of his life in an endeavour to save the life of an employee, occurred at Te Whlti yesterday. The victims were Joseph Ernest Sewell, a dairy farmer, aged 32. and Stanley Richmond, aged 17, a farm hand. The fatality T)as the tragic ending of a picnic party. After lunch the men went swimming, and after they hud been about an hour in the -water Mr. Richmond, who was a poor swimmer, got Into difficulties. Mr. Sewell went to his assistance, but being only a moderate swimmer, found the task too great. Faced with the sight of the two men almost drowning, Mr. Thorpe, another of the party, endeavoured to rd&sue them. He got Mr. Sewell almost to safety, but the latter was too exhausted to ! hold on, and slipped back Into deep water. By this time the would-be rescuer was all but, exhausted, and within the view of distressed women he had to give up the attempt, and Sewell and Richmond were drowned. OTHER BATHING FATALITIES. AUCKLAND. Last Night. A drowning accident occurred at Pokeno on Saturday, Barrett David Muir (16) losing his life. Ho was bathing in a creek with a friend, Frederick Stokes, who could not swim. Muir tried to duck Stokes, and both Bank, and Muir did not come to the surface again, Stokes wasT carried away by the stream 'in an exhausted condition, and was rescued by a neighbouring farmer. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night

Harry Frank IHowardi struck 3iis head while diving lnt6 shallow water at Akaroa yesterday. He was unconscious when picked up, and died In th« hospital from injuries.