TRAGIC FISHING TRIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20716, 8 November 1930, Page 12

TRAGIC FISHING TRIP.

DINGHY GOES ADRIFT.

SWIM TO RECOVER CRAFT.

1 TASK PROVES TOO GREAT.

{WELLINGTON HARBOUR FATALITY

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON. Friday.

A fishing expedition to Ward Island in fcrder to help to maintain his wifo and family until he obtained carpentering work, friad a tragic ending for Charles Fredorick (Orr, of 'Eastbourne. Ho was drowned endeavouring to recover a dinghy [which had drifted away. At an inquest held by tho coroner, Mr. (J. S. Barton, S.M., to-day, Paku Kingi, labourer, of Eastbourne, said that on tho evening of October 28 Orr asked witness to accompany him to Ward Island to help in the fishing operations. They left Eastbourno at about 5.45 p.m. in a small launch with a dinghy. On reaching tho Island they anchored in a bay and rowed pishoro in tho dinghy, which they pulled tip on tho beach before preparing tho fishing not. Orr looked round after some limo and saw the dinghy floating out to tea. It was then about ten yards off the fchoro. While ho was getting a rope to throw out to tho dinghy the boat drifted cut. of reach. Orr then took olf his (clothes and swam out to it.

"I asked him how he was doing and lie said he was all light," continued witness. "He had hold of the boat with both hands) but was not in it. 1 turned awav t-o prepare the net and on looking at him again saw him flapping in the water. Beeing that ho was in trouble I took off >ny clothes and went to his assistance. (When I was about four or five yards out fie stopped flapping and sank. I swam font to'where he had been and not seeing Jiim I swam to tho launch to rest myself fcuid then back to tho beach." Continuing witness said that he then looked out for an outboard motor-boat [Which had gone out before them and |*rhpn he had located it ho called to the fcccupant and told him Orr had been drowned.- The other man said that he [would help to recover the body. Another launch came over to tho island and the fishermen dragged for and recovered the fcody soon after 8 o'clock. The fatality pccu'rred about 6.15.

In reply to the covonar witness said that |he body was recovered near tho spot where Orr went down. Orr was a fairly good swimmer and in warm weather it [would have been an easy swim to tho dinghy, which was about 30 yards out. ffhe water was very cold. "1 warned him against going out to tho Hinghy," witness said, "and pointed out that the other boat would get it, but he paid he would get it." Constable R. D. Squire, of Eastbourne, described the recovery of the body. Orr [was a carpenter out of work and had teen fishing to tide him over until he obtained employment. He was a married jnan with two children, and was about 29 tor 30 years of age.

Tho coroner said that the evidence led ito an obvious finding that tho deceased ;was accidentally drowned. He added that Kingi' seemed to have acted reasonably and helpfully under tho circumstances.