DROWNING ACCIDENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21743, 7 March 1934, Page 11

DROWNING ACCIDENTS

CANOE'S FATAL CAPSIZE HAMILTON BOY'S FATE RESCUERS MISDIRECTED [from our own correspondent! HAMILTON, Tuesday A verdict of accidental drowning was returned by the coroner, Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., at the inquest held today into the death of Eric John Sibley, aged 16, who lost his life in a. canoe accident in the Waikato River yesterday. Unfortunate circumstances in connection with the tragedy were that the police received a misleading telephone message which caused them to go to the western side of the river instead of the eastern side. The youth was still clinging to the canoe when they arrived, but was too far away. Several civilians witnessed the tragedy, but none was able to swim.

A youth, Edward Albert Bradding, said that at 10 a.m. yesterday he and Sibley entered .the canoe at Oakley Avenue and paddled downstream toward Boundary Road. Sibley was in the bow. The canoe turned into the bank and when a yard away Sibley got up and said he would jump out. Witness told hiin not to. The canoe swayed and capsized. Sibley and witness clung to the canoe. It became caught in the current and was carried toward the centre of the stream. Witness swam ashore and divested himself of his clothing. He returned to the canoe and tried to hold Sibley. The boy was too big for him and witness told him to retain his hold on the canoe while witness endeavoured to push the canoe to the bank. He felt exhausted and returned to the bank. Witness went for help and did not see Sibley alive again.

APOPLECTIC PIT VICTIM VERDICT AT INQUEST [by telegraph—OWN correspondent! WHANGAREI, Tuesday The inquest concerning the death on Saturday of Reuben Brown Campbell Wellington, aged 16 years, who was drowned at Tutukaka Bay, was held to-day before the district coroner, Mr, C. F. Collins, J.P. The boy collapsed in a dinghy and partly fell over the side of the boat. Dr. H. F. Buckley said he examined the boy on his arrival at Tutukaka and found him dead. Death was due to drowning. Witness had treated the boy on a previous occasion for apoplexy, and he considered that an apoplectic fit was the cause of the accident.

A verdict of death by drowning was returned.