YOUTH DROWNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25396, 28 December 1945, Page 4

YOUTH DROWNED

YACHTING FATALITY accident off waiheke The body of one of the two occupants of a Z-class yacht which was in difficulties off Waiheke Island on Wednesday evening was discovered by a police launch party among the rocks in Owhanake Bay on the island early yesterday morning. The deceased was Bruce Macdonald, aged 17, of 15 Greenfield Road, Epsom. The other occupant, Angus Macdonald, a brother of the deceased, was found aboard the yacht, which was anchored in the bay, at about 4.30 yesterday morning. He was suffering slightly from exposure. The father of the two boys, Mr L. G. Macdonald, last saw them at about 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday when they sailed fi'oni Mechanics' Bay in their yacht, the Kiatoa. Attempt to Kecover Rudder Because of the -rough weather the boys had first agreed to sail as far as St. Heliers and spend the night there, but they later changed their minds and sailed to Matiatia, arriving there at 5.30. They left again 15 minutes later j for Oneroa. The was not particu- ! larly rough, but a high south-westerly | wind was blowing. Two bovs from [Oneroa were to have met the yacht at Matiatia at 6.30 to warn the brothers that it would he unsalo to go on to I Oneroa, but the yacht had already left ! when they arrived at Matiatia. | At about 6.30 p.m. the yacht was ! about 50 yards off the shore opposite | Owhanake Point when the rudder broke away. Bruce Macdonald jumped overboard and reached the rudder. However, the. yacht drifted away and the bov called out to his brother that he would make for the shore.

Another Yacht In Difficulties While the yacht was in difficulties, Mr Henry Putt, of 41 Johnson Street, Point Chevalier, sailed out to the Kiatoa and spoke to the only occupant, Angus Macdonald. While Mr Putt's yacht was circling near by, the hoist broke nud the boom struck his small sou. knocking him unconscious. With his own vacht in difficulties and his son injured, Mr Putt was prevented from giving assistance. Mr Putt informed Constable Smith, of Oneroa, as soon as lie arrived there and the constable set out in a launch shortly before nightfall to search the channel. He did not sight the yacht, which was found in the bay at daybreak. The body of Bruce Macdonald was found bv the police at 6.45 a.m. and it was later brought to Auckland by naval launch. An inquest will be opened this morning.