TRAGEDY IN SURF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21399, 25 January 1933, Page 8

TRAGEDY IN SURF

TWO MEN DROWNED '

CAUGHT BY BACKWASH RESCUE EFFORTS FAIL FATALITY NEAR GREYMOUTH [BY TELEGItArn—PRESS ASSOCIATION 1 GREYMOUTH, Tuesday A double surfing fatality occurred about four o'clock this afternoon at Blaketown Beach, south of the harbour entrance, the scene of previous tragedies. The victims were:— Mr. Elias Nordstrom, married, aged 24, of Creymouth. Mr. Charles Kerr McAnulty, aged 27, of Greymouth. Both men were poor swimmers and waded out over waist deep in the water. There were about 30 other people also surfing in the vicinity and they state that tho back-wash at the time was exceptional, although tho tide was making and all bathers had difficulty in it. Messrs McAnulty and Nordstrom were carried beyond their depth and valiant efforts to save them failed. Mr. Ivan James Curin managed to grasp McAnulty, but the latter s struggles, combined with the undertow, forced Mr. Curin to release him after bringing him six yards toward the shore. Mr. Curin called to Mr. Nordstrom to help, but he was in difficulties and soon disappeared. Mr. Curin returned ashore only with difficulty. Another swimmer, Mr. Patrick Blanchfield, made an effort to reach the victims, but as they were then drifting rapidly he was obliged to seek his own safety. Three attempts "with the aid of a lifelino were made from the shore by Messrs. William Smith, Michael Gordon, Frank Moss and Peter Affleck to effect a rescue, but the reel broke on the first two attempts. Tho third effort extended the full length of the, line, 400 feet, but the victims then had disappeared: Up to 10 p.m., high water, there was no sign of the bodies.

Mr. Nordstrom, who was a native of Northumberland, leaves a w^e daughter aged two years. He had a brother at Dobson and his mother resides in England. Mr. McAnulty was a native of Blantyre, Scotland. He leaves a widowed sister at Greymouth, There is a brother at Christchurch and four married sisters live at Blantyre.

Both men were formerly Dobson miners and were officers of the local unemployed association.