TRAGIC DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21398, 24 January 1933, Page 6

TRAGIC DEATH

KILLED BY LIGHTNING DR. E,ARL PAGE'S SON horse Also struck dead Earle Charles Pago, aged 22, eldest son bf Dr. Earle Page, M.P., was struck by lightning and killed during a thunderstorm near j Copmanliurst, New South [Wales, on the night of January 14. About 6.30 o'clock Page and his brother Ivan, aged 16, were driving 112 head of cattle from fettle Greek to Heifer Station. They were endeavouring to curn the cattle into a dip yard, about 11 miles from Copmanhurst. This proved difficult, as the cattle were agitated by the storm which had overtaken them. Ivan suddenly saw a vivjfid flash o£ lightning, and, looking round, saw Earlo and the horse he was riding fall to the ground. He rushed to the spot and found that both horse and rider had been struck dead. Ivan carried his brother's body to the cream stand, 150 yards away, and placed cloihing andjCream cans around it to protect'it from the fury of the storm. He "then galloped six miles to Gordon Brook station for assistance. The manager, Mr. T. "YV. Lord, returned by car with Ivan and another man, and conveyed the body to Copmanliurst, where efforts at resuscitation failed. ■> A messenger was sent on horseback to' Heifer Station to inform Dr. Page, who, with Mrs. Page, was staying there.

Earle Charles Pago was born at South Grafton, and educated at South Grafton Public School and Newington College, Sydney, where he was a prizeman every year. He graduated Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Sydney University in 1932. He was a Rugby Union University and Australian Universities "Blue," and was once chosen as reserve for the State team. He was a firsjifclass rifle shot in the University team, and a good amateur boxer. For the past eight months he had been managing Heifer Station.