DROWNING ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 13

DROWNING ACCIDENT.

DEATH OF E. SCHOFIELD. HEROIC RESCUE 1 ATTEMPT. THE CORONER'S COMMENDATION. [BX TELEGH.A.PH. —OWN" CORRESI'ONDEI.'T. ] CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. • At the inquest regarding tho death of Ernest Schofield, of Auckland, who was drowned in tho surf at New Brighton on November 26, Charles Ronaldson, clerk, residing at Papanui Road, said he went to New Brighton with another man and, at about 12.30 p.m., while they were bathing, they noticed Schofield in difficulties. They swam out to him, and found him in an exhausted condition. Witness and his mate endeavoured to pull him to shore, but the back-wash was too strong for them. Witness' mate, John McLean Reid, then swam i|'iore for tho life lino while witness held Schofield, who was quite exhausted- Reid returned with the line, and Schofield clutched at it, and was. pulled within 10yds. or 15yds. of the beach, when ho collapsed and had to bo carried ashore. - A doctor arrived on the scene and attempted to bring the man round. Dr. A. B. Pearteon said he made a post-mortem examination of the body, and found that the cause of death was asphyxia, duo to drowning. Schofield's heart was not in quite so good a tone as that of a healthy man of his age, but it was "doing tho job." _ . The coroner returned a formal verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. There was no doubt, he added, that when Schofield was in difficulties his heart would tiro and he would become exhausted. ' " '!> ' Both Ronaldson and Reid were commended by the coroner for the attempt they made to save Schofield's life. Ho said: "I want to add my commendation for the prompt help which you both gave to this unfortunate man at the risk of your lives, Ronaldsou for his work in tho water, and Reid for what he did when he got a'shore."