GIRL DROWNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 14

GIRL DROWNED

ESCAPE OF COMPANION REMUERA FORESHORE, CAUGHT IN STRONG TIDE CONVENT BATHING PARTY One girl was drowned and a second narrowly escaped a similar fate through being caught in a strong ebb tide when swimming in Hobson Bay, near the foot of Victoria Avenue, shortly before 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The victim was Helen McHardy, aged 10 years, the daughter of Mr. A. McHardy, of Hoo-o-tainui, near Morrinsville.

Both girls were members of a party of 12 boarders from the Sacred Heart Convent, Remuera, who were swimming under the supervision of a former pupil and two senior pupils of the convent. Caught by the tide, the two girls were carried swiftly under the railway embankment bridge and over toward the bridge at the Orakei end of the waterfront road embankment. Naval Party's Assistance The second girl, aged about 11 years, was. able to reach a launch moored off the privato boatsheds in Ngapipi Road, from which she was later rescued little the worse lor her experience. The girl McHardy, however, was washed out to the open harbour.

Information received In' the police led them to believe that two boys were ailrift in the harbour in a dinghy. The naval base was immediately communicated with and a launch was sent out from H.M.S." Philomel manned by Firstclass Stoker W. J. Taylor, Able-Sea-man H. Kellowav and Able-Seaman E. Doane. A,search was made as far as Bastion Point and the launch was returning toward the city when the body of the girl was found floating in the water about a quarter of a mile off Point Resolution. Fruitless Efforts Mr. Taylor immediately applied artificial respiration and continued his efforts during the 20-minute journey to the city, which was reached about 7 p.m. A St. John ambulance was waiting at Queen's Wharf and Mr. Taylor again tried to revive the girl as she was being driven to the hospital. A medical examination at the hospital, however, flowed that lite was extinct. Further inquiries by the police showed that the report that boys were missing was not correct.