BATHER'S FATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 17

BATHER'S FATE

WHAU CREEK VICTIM EVIDENCE AT INQUEST SANK IN A DEEP POOL lhe death of George Nancarrow, aged 15, second son of Air. and Mrs. Frank Nancarrow, of Parker Avenue, who sank while swimming across a deep pool in the Whau Creek, on February 13, was the subject of an inquest held before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner, yesterday. Fred Nancarrow, aged 17, said that with deceased and his younger brother James, aged 11, he went for a swim in the creek about two o'clock in the afternoon. Deceased, who had learned to swim the same season, went across the pool, but got into difficulties and cried out for help. Witness, who was also a poor swimmer, could not go to his help, and ran to a near by house. Both witness and deceased could swim only a few yards. James Nancarrow said deceased had swum across the pool once and was returning when he called for help. George Thomas Robert Herron gave evidence of being called by deceased's brother and recovering the body after diving in six feet of water. Artificial respiration was tried, but without avail. "I suppose it is no good putting up a notice at the pool?" asked the coroner, who recalled that there had been a drowning in the same place a few weeks previously. "It is not dangerous for swimmers," replied Constable Butler. "I am told it has been used by simmers for 30 years, and those have been the only two drownings. Everyone knows the depth of the pool." The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to accidental drowning. DEATH OP YOUNG BOY BLOCKHOUSE BAY ACCIDENT "I suppose the child fell down and was carried away by the current," said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner, at the inquest yesterday into the death of Donald Ambrose, aged six, elder eon of Mr, G. A. Ambrose, 3 Korari Street, Eden Terrace, who was drowned at Blockhouse Bay on January 23. Gustav Alan Ambrose said he was in the water with deceased and his other eon, aged 4J years, about 4 p.m. He left the water, the children staying in about a foot of water. From the shore witness and his wife could see them playing, and then the younger boy came ashore to be dressed. Witness' attention, was diverted from deceased for about three minutes, and when he looked again he could not see the boy. Witness ran along the beach looking for the child, thinking he, had left the water, but was told the boy had been picked out of the water and taken to a near by house. Witness reached the house no more than eight minutes after he last saw the boy in the water. Constable Butler said apparently no one saw the boy from the time his father last saw him until his body was found floating, face down, just under the surface, by Charles James Clark, who was rowing ashore in a boat. The child was taken to a house, where artificial aid was applied and a doctor called, but' without success. The body was found about 100 yards from the shore. The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to accidental drowning.