Pier Crowd Saw Boy Drowning, But Did Little To Assist

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1940, Page 6

Pier Crowd Saw Boy Drowning, But Did Little To Assist

[Per Press Association. Copyright .] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “It is apparent that surf clubs, while desiring to do all they can to save lives, are seriously hampered by lack of finance, and it is unusual, if not something more, that more help is not given to them by the local body that benefits by the crowd which go to the beach.” Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., coroner, said this when an inquest was held yesterday into the death of James Clifford Blogg, who, the coroner found, was accidentally drowned at New Brighton on January 28. , . “I give all credit, indeed praise, to the two young men who went out In a bad sea to help, and it is indeed satisfying to know we have youths who are ready and willing to do that,” said Mr Levvey. “However, it is a lamentable thing and very hard to understand that no attempt was made by the crowd on the pier, some of whom must have known what was going on, to make a more urgent effort to give assistance.” Special Dispensation. The inquest was held under a special dispensation from the AttorneyGeneral, failing production of the body. Blogg was the son, aged 16, of Mr and Mrs S. Blogg, of Beckenham. Desmond Sinclair, 15, who went to the beach with Blogg, said he gave him a surf board and Blogg said, “I’m going out to catch some decent breakers.” He later saw Blogg being helped by two men, but one of these men got into difficulties himself. Noel Dunn, a boy who was fishing from the pier, said he saw Blogg in difficulties some distance from the pier, but no one on the pier did anything to help, although there was a crowd watching, at the rail. Called Life-Savers. Allen Matthew Hannah, who was fishing with Dunn, said he went on Dunn’s bicycle to call the life-savers. Alfred Boyce Bacon, instructor of the New Brighton life-saving club, said that when given a rather vague message by a boy—not Hannah, but another boy to whom Hannah had shouted —he went out into the breakers near the pier. After swimming through the pier and receiving no instructions from the crowd, he spoke to the only swimmer he could see, who was all right and able to swim ashore. Bacon, presuming that this man was the swimmer referred to in the message, then swam ashore and returned to the club. The point at which the drowning occurred would be outside the marked safety zone.

Bad Sea for Beginner. The tide was on the make, and it was a bad sea for a beginner. If the life-savers had been notified more promptly, the tragedy might have been averted. He was in the breakers within half a minute of being told that help was needed. Questioned by the coroner, Bacon said it was not possible to do anything in this case, as notice was not given immediately. There was no system of communication between the end of the pier and the club pavilion, but the committee had considered arranging something in the way of an electric bell. The coroner asked whether a system on the fire alarm principle, with a bell in the pavilion, would be practicable. “It is all a matter of finance,” sai’d Bacon. “We have not very much money.” Trouble With People on Pier. Frank Fielding, 21. said he went with a friend, Jack Blight, to Blogg’s assistance, but they were not successful. Police-Sergeant J. Mclntosh said the beach had been regularly patrolled since the accident. The only body washed up was that of the victim of a later accident. “The trouble,” Mclntosh added, “was with the people on the pier-” The coroner then gave his verdict.

Such of thft cable news In this Issue as Is so headed has appeared fn “The Times” and is sent to” this-paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of “The Times” unless expressly stated to be- so. -