Commend Drowned Boy's Courage

Northern Advocate, 5 January 1948, Page 2

Commend Drowned Boy's Courage

ROTORUA, Mon. (Sp.)—The courage of a nine-year-old half-caste Maori, who was drowned with his five-year-old brother in the Rangitaiki River on Friday was warmly commended by the coroner (Mr W. L. Richards) yesterday. The two boys Michael Joseph Dunn, and Patrick Toroa Dunn, were caught in a treacherous section of deep water in the river near Murupara and were drowned. Without hesitation Michael went to the assistance of his younger brother and made a gallant and meritorious effort to save him. but. unfortunately, it cost him his life, said the coroner. His conduct was deserving of the highest praise. Mr Richards also commended the action of the two men, Messrs E. Tilley and H. Twist, who, he said, at great personal risk dived into the deep pool to rescue the two bodies. He returned a verdict of accidental drowning. Body firs Harbour

TIMARU, Men. (P.A.).—The body of a man was recovered from the water off the eastern extension breakwater of Timaru harbour at about 6 p.m. yesterday. He was: Mr Patrick James Macanley, aged 53. A boy first saw the body at 6.45 p.m. on Saturday entangled in a heap of seaweed, but could not reach it. He went for assistance and on his return the body had ‘ disappeared. The police commenced dragging, which was continued yesterday afternoon at low tide. Drowned in River

CHRISTCHURCH, Mon. (P.A.) —A man was drowned at the mouth of the Ashley River, North Canterbury, yesterday afternoon. He was: Mr Douglas Alexander Ennis, aged 42, married, of Rangiora. A boy in a fishing party, Mahne j Hawcins, got into difficulties and Mr j Ennis, with the boy’s father, went to | the rescue. ; A fisherman with a boat saved Mr | Hawcins and the boy. but the body! of Mr Ennis was not recovered until | the river was dragged. Artificial respiration was applied without success, i Bodies Recovered

The body of Mr Leonard C Fitzgerald, who was drowned when attempting to ford the Waiohinc* Stream on a tramping trip in the Tararuas has been recovered by a search party. Mr Fitzgerald had been carried half a mile downstream. The body of Mr Allan Robert Haxwell aged 24, married, an Army mechanic employed at Fort Dorset, Wellington, who was drowned in the Wanganui River on New Year’s Day, was recovered today. It was found by a farmer not far from where Mr Haxwell was last seen.