DROWNING FATALITY AT MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 28 January 1936, Page 4

DROWNING FATALITY AT MOTUEKA

YOUNG MAN’S DEATH An exchange cleric at the Motueka Post Office, Edward John Cavanagh, was drowned in the Motueka River on Monday afternoon. Mr Cavanagh left home at 1-30 p.m. to go to the river and at 4.30 p.m. the body was discovered in a deep pool, off the main river, by three boys, who immediately got into communication with Constable Adams. The latter was quickly on the scene and removed the body. Deceased, who was a single man, 25 years of age, was learning to swim and had been making use of water wings, which apparently had failed him.

Air Cavanagh’s parents reside in Wei lington. An inquest will be held to-day.

INQUEST HELD

At an inquest held 'this morning before Air J. H. Rankin, Coroner, the verdict was that deceased, who was evidently unable to swim, was accidentally drowned while bathing in the Alotueka river

Constable A. Adams in evidence said that at 4.45 p.m. two boys, Frank Kilgour and John Fearless reported at the Police Station that they had found a body in the Alotueka river behind Parkers’ Island. Accompanied by Messrs J. 11. Rankin and R. Rowling tliQ constable went to the river and recovered the body from a hole in which the water was five feet in depth. Nearby was a pair of deflated water wings which were tested and were found to be defective. There was a small hole in the fabric and the wings would remain inflated for only 30 seconds It was the opinion of witness that deceased was using the wings and had got into the deep water when the wings let him down. Some time previously in conversation with deceased, witness had been told that Cavanagh could not swim, but' lie intended to learn. The two boys gave evidence of finding the body. Sister Doris T. Parker, at whose residence deceased had been boarding since 1932, testified to the time that deceased left home with his bathing suit and water wings.