DROWNING ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19550, 1 February 1927, Page 10

DROWNING ACCIDENTS.

TRAGEDY IN A RIVER. TV/O BOYS LOSE LIVES. SAD CASE AT TE AROHA. FRUITLESS RESCUE EFFORTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.) TE AROHA. Monday. A drowning fatality which cast a gloom over the whole district occurred yesterday morning. Two lads, Frederick George Blackford, aged 15, and Sydney Mawson Clark, aged 12, were drowned while bathing in the Waihou River. The boys, in company with Mr. Blackford and Mr. Thomas Aickin, schoolmaster, of Elstow, had just commenced swimming when the lad Clark, who was not a good swimmer, got out of his depth and was seen to be in difficulty. Blackford immediately went to his assistance, but Clark grappled with him and both boys disappeared. Mr. Aickin and Mr. Blackford made frantic efforts to save the boys but Mr. Blackford became exhausted by the struggle and had to go to the bank. Mr. Aickin and the boys then sank but soon reappeared. Mr. Aickin had lost his hold of the lads by this time and they were carried down stream. Although on the point of exhaustion Mr. Aickin again went out but the boys disappeared locked in each other's arms, before he reached them and they did not rise again. Mr. Aickin eventually reached the bank in a state of collapse. The bodies of the two lads were recovered, still locked together, at two o'clock in the afternoon. An inquest was held this morning when a verdict of accidental drowning was returned, the jury adding a rider to the effect that life-saving apparatus should be provided at recognised bathing pools along the river. The bodies of the two boys were interred side by side in the Te Aroha cemetery this afternoon in the presence of a large number of people.

SWIMMER DISAPPEARS. FATALITY AT A PICNIC. ACTIVE WORKER FOR LABOUR. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] DUNEDIN, Monday. A member of a picnic party, Mr. Randall George McDonnell, was drowned in the Taieri River near Outram yesterday afterndon. He disappeared when swimming and his body was found 15 minutes later. Mr. McDonnell was well-known in the labour movement. At the inquest; held this afternoon, the coroner, Mr. J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., said this was one of the sad cases of drowning that occurred from time to time. His verdict was of accidental death by drowning. For the past twelve years deceased had taken an active interest in the affairs of the labour movement. He was once president of the Napier branch of the Labour Party and lately had acted as secretary of the .Otago Labour Representation Committee. He had also represented Otago on the National Executive of the New Zealand Labour Party.

DROWNED IN LAGOON. BATHER UNABLE TO SWIM. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. 'A young man, John Oborn Piggott, known as John Oborn, employed by Mr. J. Ashworth Domett, was drowned in the lagoon at the mouth of the Hurunui River about mid-day yesterday, Piggott and a companion went for a bathe and it is understood that Piggott, who was. unable to swim, got out of his depth. His companion did not notice Piggott's disappearance until he had been under the water for some time. When the body was recovered restorative measures were applied without avail. Dr. M. E. Irwin, of Cheviot, was summoned, but pronounced life extinct. FLOCK HOTJSE BOY'S RfTE. FORBIDDEN BATHING! AREA. [BT TELEGRAPH." —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON NORTH. Monday. A Flock House trainee, William James Thomas Cox, a recent arrival from England, was accidentally drowned when bathing yesterday in a forbidden part of the Rangitikei River, Shortly before the tragedy the deceased called for help, but was only jesting. A little later real cries of distress were heard, but no sign was seen of Cox, whoso body was not recovered until late last night. Deceased was an orphan.

CAUGHT IN BACK-WASH. WOMAN BATHER'S ESCAPE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHBISTCHURCH. Monday. Caught in a (strong back-wash while bathing at Sumner this morning, a woman had a narrow escape from drowning- Two boys noticed the woman in difficulties and gave the alarm. The only man on the beach at the time went to the rescue. The woman managed to keep her head above water for a time but collapsed as soon as the rescuer reached her. Just before she got into difficulties she warned two children not to come too far out, but before she could come closer to the shore herself she was swept out by the back-wash. On being brought in the woman was in an exhausted state.