DROWNING ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11852, 2 January 1902, Page 5

DROWNING ACCIDENTS.

An inquest was held on Tuesday* afternoon at Lucas' Creek before Mr. T. gresham, coroner, to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of Frank McArthur, 21 years of age, who was accidentally drowned at Lucas' Creek on Monday last. Shirley Frost, cousin of the deceased, said that on Monday last he went for a swim in company with deceased in a creek close to where the latter's parents resided. The water was about fifteen feet deep, and neither could swim very well. After a second plunge in the water with deceased witness came out and sow deceased struggling a little under the water, about twenty yards away. Witness ran round to the side of the bank where deceased was, and tried to reach him by the aid of an overhanging branch, but was unsuccessful. Deceased sank only ■: once and witness ran and summoned assistance, and the body was recovered about an hour and a-haif afterwards. Alex. McArthur also gave evidence. William Stevenson \ said that the body was recovered lying on the bottom of the waterhole, and that there was no contraction of the limb's or fingers. Dr. Hood said that in his opinion death was due to syncope, causing heart failure, probably resulting from the shock produced by the coldness of the water. A verdict of Accidental drowning whilst bathing" was returned. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon before Mr. T. Gresham, coroner, on the body of Leslie Gordon Walker, the infant who met his'death by drowning, ill Cox's Creek on Tuesday last. The evidence went to show that th? child was playing with his brother, seven years of age, on the banks of Cox's Creek.' The brother returned to his father's house near by in order to obtain a fishing-rod, leaving the child at the creek side. On returning"he was unable to find him, and summoned the assistance of a youth named Rid ling, and the body was discovered in the creek. Dr. Knight, who was passing, was unable to restore respiration. The banks of the creek are precipitous with a slight slope, and the child was afterwards found to have a braise on the forehead. A verdict of "Accidental drowning" was returned.