DROWNING ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17351, 24 December 1919, Page 8

DROWNING ACCIDENT.

MARRIED MAN'S FATE. WASHED OFF A WALL. HELP ARRIVES TOO LATE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN • CORRESPONDENT.] , WANGANTJI, Tuesday. Through his inability to swim, an employee of the Harbour Board, Mr. Sydney Westbrook, was drowned this morning., Deceased was foreman,of a stone gang which was engaged in putting stone on the training wall in the river channel at Castlecliff just below the dumping wharf. The punt had been made fast to the wall, and deceased went in a boat to clear the ropes of the punt from the wall. While doing so the boat rilled and he was thrown into the water. In his struggles he let go the ropes and managed to scramble on to the training wall, which at that time was awash. A larger wave than usual struck the wall and washed the unfortunate man off. He was not able to swim and gradually drifted towards the centre of the channel and disappeared when about 20 or 30 feet from the wall. None of the men on the punt could* swim, but they at once communicated with the Karone, which sent assistance with all speed possible. This came just too late, arriving on the. scene about a minute after Mr. Westbrook had disappeared. One of the dredge hands swam . and dived about in the locality for some time, but without success. Search was continued by the police. Deceased, who was a married man with, one child, was well known and highly esteemed. At one time he took an active interest in Methodist Church affairs.