HEROIC FISHERMAN

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11649, 13 October 1923, Page 9

HEROIC FISHERMAN

HELPING A COMRADE. STORY TOLD AT AN INQUEST. A story of the master of a fishing vessel, who at the call of an endangered comrade in the darkness of the night unhesitatingly risked his life in order to get him ashore, where he made every attempt to resuscitate him, .was . told at the inquest at Hobart Police. Court last week, on William Rogers, who was drowned while out seine fishing, near Bruny Island, on Wednesday. The coroner, commenting on the circumstances, said: “In this case it is clear that deceased, William Rogers, met his death aa a result of heart failure, produced by shock following prolonged immersion in water. The facts as proved reflect, I think, greatest credit on John Henry Coleman. Ho was with deceased in a dinghy, they were fishing, and as the breeze was freshening and the eea came up it -became obvious that the dinghy would not hold both of them. Coleman therefore said to deceased: ‘You stay with the dinghy to support you, and I will swim, ashore.’ He swam ashore, and was very much exhausted but he heard deceased crying to him from the dinghy. to come out and help him, deceased saying that he had cramp. Hearing that, exhausted as he was, Coleman took off his clothes and swam once again a Jong distance to the dinghy, took it in tow, and brought it to the shore. They both had cramp, but Coleman was a little the better and tried all he’ could to restore animation to deceased, but without effect, and the poor fellow, apparently from cramp and shock, as the doctor says, being weak, gave way.”