DROWNING OF YOUTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 23

DROWNING OF YOUTH

CAPSIZE OF SMALL BOAT EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST The capsizing of the 14ft. Wakatere class sailing boat Will-o'-the-Wisp on November 20, near the Northcote wharf, which led to the drowning of Roy Gordon Stanley, telegraph linesman, aged 17, of 13 Leslie Street, Sandringham, was described at an inquest yesterday. The body of deceased has not been recovered, but Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner, received authority from the Solicitor-General to hold an inquest. Daniel Calder, of Great North Road, Grey Lynn, 6aid he was in the boat when the mast struck tho bowsprit of the scow Endeavour, which was berthed at the Northcote wharf, capsizing the Will-o'-thc-Wisp. Witness and Mervyn Hynes, of Stanmore Road, Grey Lynn, swam to the wharf. The sea was rough and a strong tide was running out. Clarence Goodall, of Crummcr Road. Grey Lynn, and deceased, clung to the boat for a time and then began to swim ashore, but deceased disappeared.

Goodall said that he saw Stanley in difficulties, and went to his aid. Witness, however, had to free himself from deceased's grip and swim to the drainage outfall beacon, reaching it in an exhausted condition. Hynes said the boat was cloarine a fishing line when it fouled tho Endeavour's bowsprit. Witness and Calder swam after sonio gear, expecting tho boat to drift ashore, but tho tide carried it away. Roy Gordon Stanley, father of deceased, said his son had been able to swim since ho was six years old.

A verdict was given that deceased was drowned following tho accidental capsize of a boat at Northcote. The coroner remarked that there had recently been a case of a man drowning after being only a few seconds in tho water.