DROWNED IN THE SURF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19542, 22 January 1927, Page 8

DROWNED IN THE SURF.

THE OPUNAKE FATALITIES. BRAVE EFFORTS AT RESCUE. SURF CLUB TEAM IN TROUBLE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT,.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday. ' Up to this evening no further trace had been found of the body of Mr. Thomas Pennington, who, with Miss Mary Doreen Hammond, was drowned in the surf near Opunake on Wednesday evening. A search is being continued. Seven members of the Opunake Surf Club who reached the scene, which is four miles from Opunake, 20 minutes after the accident, was reported found that the sea conditions were very treacherous, and their task no light one, even with the aid of a reel and lifeline. One member of the team swam out to support Miss Hammond, who could be seen floating some distance from the shore. He was followed by the belt man and the others. Very soon the strong current had the team iri difficulty. The strength of the back-wash was also such that the men who should have been standing to support the. line and help to haul it in when requested could not : keep their feet. Owing to these •conditions the line ,was called on to bear a double load, for part of the time. Although it was of the best quality and had only been purchased this year it could not stand this exceptional strain, and broke twice. Fortunately, it was found possible to rejoin the ends, and after a hard struggle Miisg Hammond's body was brought ashore.. Life was then extinct. The team, whose courageous work has received much commendation, comprised Messrs. J. and J. Harrison, W. E. and M. Smith, R. Brighouse, P. Brooker and Johnson. ; The difficulty of their task is ■ indicated by the fact that two of them, Messrs. Harrison' and Brighouse, had' to receive medical attention on reaching the beach, while all suffered from the effects of swallowing quantities of salt water. The beach is usually regarded as a safe one, except that a backwash is liable to develop with the ebbing tide. Miss Hammond, who was postmistress at Mangatoki, was regarded by her friends as being of a daring disposition.

INQUEST ON ONE VICTIM. PROVISION OF A LIFE-LINE, [by telegraph.—own correspondent. 3 NEW PLYMOUTH. Friday. The inquest into tho death of Miss Hammond, one of the two victims of the drowning accident at Opunake yesterday, was held at Opunake this afternoon. After hearing the evidence of a brother of deceased, who identified the body, and of two eye-witnesses who had warned deceased of the danger of bathing, the jury returned a verdict that deceased met her death accidentally through drowning. A rider was added recommending that a life-line should be placed on the beach. The jury also commended the courageous efforts of members of the Surf Club.