YOUTH'S FATAL REQUEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7048, 9 February 1910, Page 8

YOUTH'S FATAL REQUEST

"COMB OUT A BIT FARTHER.” EVANS BAT DROWNING CASE. The circumstances surrounding the death, by drowning, of a youth named Eric Gibson, at Evans Bay on Monday, were investigated by Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Newtown Police Station yesterday. The evidence showed that deceased, ten years and seven months of age, had gone for a bathe after leaving school. Ho was with other lads about hia own age. Gibson was last in the water. He then invited the others to go out further—up to their necks. After going a «hort distance, they fell into a hole, the water closing over their heads. A youth named Arthur Grant Kirkwood, said he felt someone, apparently deceased, grab his legs. He kicked out, the hold was released, and witness, after calling out for help, struggled to shallow water. None of them could swim. Frank Hunt, a young man who was in the brtfhing shed, recovered the body about 120 yards from that place. There was a sharp dip in the bottom, about TO feet from where the bodv was found, the water being between five and six foot deep. Efforts to restore animation, by means of artificial respiration, lasting for two hours, proved futile. The coroner found that death was due to accidental drowning. He commended the witness'Hunt for the prompt assistance rendered by him, and 1 also the youth Kirkwood for calling out for help. •