FISHING TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23111, 9 August 1938, Page 6

FISHING TRAGEDY

■ SWEPT FROM ROCKS THREE MEN DROWNED RESCUE EFFORTS FRUITLESS [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] - SYDNEY, August 4 ■ Three fishermen were swept to their deaths by a huge wave while fishing from rocks at North Head, Port Jack" son and a fourth member of the party had a, narrow escape, being almost knocked from his feet by the rush of water before he reached safety. The tragedy occurred less than a mile from where six men were drowned on March 7, 1937, when a disabled launch was dashed on the rocks. The victims of this week's tragedy were:—Mervyn Coleman, 32; Charlas Coleman, 28, his brother; and Harold Blackridge. The survivor was Philip MeManus. The spot where the tragedy occurred is known as the "bank." It is a large flat ledge of rock, which in certain weather causes a bombora. Thirty yards from the sea is a depression in the rock called a "gutter," which starting with a crevice, widens; to 20 yards before it links up with the sea. At that point it is 10ft. deep. Fishing is only possible at the "bank" when the tide is receding, and then the sea has to be favourable. Swept into Maelstrom 9 Charles Coleman and Blackridge were fishing with the "gutter" behind them, and Mervyn Coleman and MeManus 40 yards away with the mouth of the "gutter" close on their right. Suddenly a huge wave charged against the rocks, shot irrto the air in an angry white mass, and overwhelmed Charles Coleman and Blackridge. They were tumbled by the surging water into the "gutter," which became a giant millrace pouring into the sea. MeManus was the first to see the danger. "Water!" he yelled, and sprang back. Mervyn Coleman saw his brother and Blackridge shooting down the "gutter" toward him at a terrific pace. He stood fast and bent to grasp one of them, but was immediately swept into the maelstrom. The three men were swept rapidly into the sea, then whirled by another big wave on to a rocky ledge, only to be dragged back into the seething waters. Blackridge, flung against the rocks, disappeared. The two brothers were carried farther north for oO yards before they too, disappeared. - . Rescuer Nearly Swept Away MeManus had raced around the cliffs hoping to be of assistance, and be was joined by Albert Mytton, another' fisherman, who, from his hut 100 yards away had heard the cries for help. Mytton had a lifeline and reached a point where at one time he was only 12 yards from the Colemans. He had the rope half uncoiled when a wave flung him down. He clutched for a hold with fingers and toes while two feet of water surged over him. He was fortunate not to have been. carried away. Even had he managed to throw the rope to the drowning men, he would probably have been dragged into the sea with them by the back-wash of the wave. McManim, suffering severe shock, told his story as he stood on the spot from which his friends had been taken. "\Ye : had been pals for, years," he said, "and every week went rock-fishing. For the Jast two years we had been going to North Head. The sea was not rough, although there was a fair swell, but Ave had to wait until the tide turned. None of us had caught a fish after 20 minutes, when suddenly I saw a wave, which, at first seemed no bigger than the others, rear up from the bombora. True tc Family Pact "The wave came over the rocks like fury, about 2ft. deep and tons' of it. Charlie Coleman and Blackridge were washed into the gutter, and they came racing down in a flash. Mervyn tried to intercept them. I was sent staggering, but managed to keep my feet, and started to run round the rocks. My friends were being carried along faster than I Could run. I was joined by Mytton, but we had no chance of saving thfem. The strongest swimmer in the world could not have lived in thai 6urf." Behind the drowning of the two Colemans is the story of a family pact between five Coleman brothers— Mervyn, Charles, Edgar, Vivian and James. "Six months ago our father died," said James Coleman. "It was the first bereavement in the family, and we all joined hands and solemnly swore:—'One for all, and all for one.' When the mem were overwhelmed by the wave, Charles and Blackridge were swept toward the sea down a gutter eight feet deep J ,,. Mervyn could 'have saved himself. He was a poor swimmer, but he did not hesitate in his attempt to save Charles. True to the pact, any one of us would risk his life for the other."