Parents and Three Sons Drowned

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7063, 24 January 1933, Page 7

Parents and Three Sons Drowned

TWO OTHER BOYS ALSO VICTIMS FATHER’S VAIN ATTEMPT TO SAVE THEM Received Monday, 8.10 p.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 23. During the terrific storm which lashed the coast from two until dawn, seven people were drowned whil6 others were gallantly rescued when flood waters rushed on the vallley at Stanwell Park and overwhelmed the camping parties. The dead include a father, mother and three children and two brothers of another family, namely Vincent Davis, aged 40; his wife, aged 38; their sons, Vincent, aged 13, Leslie, aged 9, and Jack, aged 2; also Jack Phyllis, aged 12, and his brother, Allan, aged 8. Following the torrential rain the beach lagoon near where the tents were erected overflowed. Some campers fought their way up the steep hill to seek shelter at the railway station. The Davis family and the Phyllffi brothers were left marooned. Suddenly their tent was blown clown. Mr Davis used a rope which formed part of the tent fastenings to tie his family by the wrists to a tree. The two Phyllis boys, whoso camp was washed away, sought shelter with the Davis family and Mr. Davis also tied them to tho rest of the party. Then strapping his baby Clifford to his shoulders Mr. Davis plunged into the water in an attempt to reach the land 50 yards away and thus secure help. Neither he nor tho baby was seen again. The force of tho water was so great that the rope holding the other members of the family to the tree snapped and they were swept towards the sea. The rope around Laurel Davis’s wrist became entangled in a fallen tree and saved her life. Gordon Thompson, aged 17, made five attempts to swim through the broiling torrent before he finally dragged her ashore. The island meanwhile became completely submerged. The body of Mrs. Davis was recovered and two others have been seen in the surf.