INQUEST INTO DUNNING DROWNING

Northern Advocate, 25 March 1937, Page 4

INQUEST INTO DUNNING DROWNING

Coroner’s Praise For Rescue Attempt Special to “Northern Advocate.' M * AUCKLAND, This Day. “In spite of warnings, some people will never sit still in a boat, and this seems to be a case in point,” said the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, at the inquest yesterday into the death of Edward James Dunning, aged 24, who Was lost from a dinghy which capsized at Murray’s Bay on the night of March 14. The verdict was that death was due to drowning. Deceased, who' was a well-known cricketer, was a member or the Rodney family, who are all well-known in the cricket world. The coroner congratulated Mr. G. W. Ratcliffe on his attempt to rescue deceased, who was unable to swim. Dinghy Overturns Several Times. Evidence by David Alvie Hobbs, grocery manager, was that when 25 yards from the launch the dinghy, ‘f 5 which was a sound boat, was struck by three waves and filled. Deceased was sitting right forward, and witness and he clung to the dinghy as it swamped. The other three men made for the launch. Witness said the dinghy overturned several times, and as deceased could not swim, witness held him when the dinghy rolled over and the pair sank several times. Both were weakening, and at last witness lost his grip. Deceased did not struggle, but seemed to give up hope after the dinghy sank. Dived To Assist. Garnet Walter Ratcliffe, commercial traveller, said he had dived from the launch to assist when the dinghy overturned. Hobbs* and deceased were clinging to the boat, both almost exhausted. Witness and Hobbs paddled with deceased to within 15 yards, of the launch, but then deceased sank out of sight.

Deceased, said Frederick William Alfred Byerley, bank clerk, could not swim. He had had a scare in the water some years ago, and had since been unable to overcome his fear of . it.

Alexander Malcolm Matheson, school teacher, said there was about three inches of free-board when the five persons were seated in the dinghy, and Hermes Hadlee, service station, assistant, said there was no question of quarrelling or horse-play. No one in the dinghy was intoxicated. Seven gallons of beer were consumed after the arrival of the launch in the morning, said Ernest Horspool. However, a quantity of liquor had to be discarded, as it was unfit to drink.