BROWNING ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18322, 12 February 1923, Page 8

BROWNING ACCIDENTS.

THE WHANGAREI FATALITY.

COMPANIONS TERRIFIED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ! \ WHANGAREI, Sunday.

A verdict of death by accidental drowning was returned as a result of the inquest on Eric William Wallbank, of TVhangarei,' who got out of his /depth while bathing on Thursday last in the Otaika creek. The evidence, which was given before Mr. J. D. McKenzie, deputy-coroner, and a jury, : showed that deceased had gone bathing in the creek, after school. Henry. Poolman, who subsequently searched for the body, said that he had warned the boys about bathing at that place, and deceased' was among the boys when he warned them. There were five lads -together, and the evidence showed that deceased 'was apparently bumped against and precipitated into the water at a place where he could not gain a foothold. He could not swim, and the efforts of the other boys to help him failed. They appeared to be terrified and hastily got into their clothes. Some of them had fled when Mr. Poolman heard* cries of alarm and arrived on the bank. The boys who were still scrambling into their _ clothes were too excited br frightened to indicate where the deceased had disappeared under the water, and Mr. Poolman dived for several minutes in various parts of the creek before at last he located and brought the body to the surface. In this search he was joined !*• Mr. Edward Thomas Gash, and both of them at once began artificial respiration, which they continued until Dr. Walker arrived. Upon examination the doctor pronounced life extinct,and expressed the opinion; in giving evidence, that deceased had been dead upwards of an hour at the time wheri he saw the body." It was also stated that the schoolmaster at Otaika had warned the boys about bathing in the creek, unless they were allowed to do so by their parents. , The deceased was nine years old. The interment took place to-day.

FALL ' FROM A BRIDGE. v

NATIVE BOY'S FATE. [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] TE PUKE. Saturday. A native boy, aged six years, a son of Kepe Teamo, fell off the Kaituna Bridge yesterday and was drowned. The body has not yet been recovered. The spot where the fatality occurred is a favoured bathing place among the natives. r• t