LOST FROM LAUNCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 11

LOST FROM LAUNCH

- TAURANGA YOUTH DROWNED FATALITY IN DARKNESS J'by telegraph—OWN correspondent] TAURANGA. Thursday The tody of the youth Richard Graham, aged 18, who lost his life on Friday night through falling from the launch Wharerata, was found about a quarter of a mile from the Omokoroa Wharf. The inquest was held to-day before Mr. A. F. Tunks, coroner. Dr. Stuart stated that death was due to drowning. Thomas McCullough stated that on Friday he left Omokoroa Wharf in his launch with his wife and Richard Graham. Shortly after 8 p.m., when they had travelled about 100 yards, the benzine pipe burst. The engine stopped immediately and Graham went on deck and dropped anchor. He then came down into the engineroom and they fixed the pipe. Graham then went on deck to pull up the anchor while witness started the engine. The engine was started and Mrs. McCullough then went on deck to see if the anchor had been pulled up. She immediately returned and said there was no sign of Graham on the boat. Witness at once stopped the engine and went on deck and pulled up the anchor. Witness shouted and cruised round for some time, but received no answer. If deceased had called out while witness was starting the engine witness would not be likely to hear him. After cruising round, witness ran the , boat ashore and went up and down the beach shouting, but received no response. Witness then went to a farmhouse some distance from the Omoko- ' roa Wharf and told the farmer what had happened. The farmer drove witness and Mrs. McCullough into Tauranga, a distance of about 15 miles. When witness arrived in the town, ho immediately informed Graham's parents and the police of the accident. Witness could form no idea of how deceased fell into the water. He was not subject to seizures of any kind and was not a swimmer. The coroner returned a verdict that, deceased met his death by accidental drowning and commented on the thorough nature of the search for the body by many volunteers from Tauranga, Omokoroa, and by natives of the Matakana Island. He again reiterated his remarks made at. previous inquests on the necessity of all persons learning to swim.