SURF-BATHING FATALITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15672, 27 January 1913, Page 3 (Supplement)

SURF-BATHING FATALITY.

TWO LIVES LOST. During the past few weeks the extremely warm weather that has prevailed has given an extraordinary impetus to the popular pastime' of surf-bathing, and hundreds of persons have indulged in this form of summer recreation with enjoyment and benefit. Two drowning accidents of an extremely sad nature occurred on the 18th January whereby two men named Joseph Clarke and Charles William Turvey lost their lives. The afternoon was very warm, and it was extremely unfortunate that the enjoyment of the large crowd at the beach should have been marred in such a sad manner, for, needless to say, the incident cast a gloom over. all. At the time of the accident there were some 60 or 80 persons in the sea, and they all appear to have been close to each other and to the scene of the dual fatality. It seems that Mr Clarke and Mr Turvey had ventmed, or at' any rate had got, too far out, and it is surmised that the former got into difficulties from which the latter was endeavouring to extricate him when the attention of the other bathers was attracted. A cry for help was raised, and Mr Leslie Thomson, a member of the Lifesaving Club, who had been in the water for some time, pluckily proceeded to the assistance of the two men. He first of all obtained hold of Turvey, but on the suggestion of the latter he seems to have relinquished him and devoted his attention to supporting Mr Clarke. Mr Thomson made vigorous endeavours to bring Mr Clarke ashoTe, but as he was probably tired with his own swim he does not appear to have made much headway. In the meantime, however, the attention of some persons on the beach had been attracted, and the life-line was run down to the edge of the water. This done, Mr N. Kirkcaldy took an end out to_ where Mr Thomson was manfully supporting Mr Clarke, and in a very few minutes the three men were being pulled ashore. It is stated by some, however, that this operation was performed too quickly and that the men—two of whom, Mr Clarke and Mr Thomson, were then in an exhausted state—were submerged to an unnecessary extent. This action, however, it should be mentioned, probably had no effect on the tragedy, as it is believed that Mr Clarke was then dead," but it may have endangered the life of the young man who so bravely attempted to rescue him.

When the beach was regained efforts were made by tho usual resuscitatory methods to restore animation to Mr Clarke's body, but they proved unavailing, and when Dr Stenhouse arrived some 10 minutes later he pronounced life to be extinct.

Mr Turvey had been for a long motor cycle ride before entering the water, and was known to be somewhat tired. Though it is not precisely known how he came by his fate, it is surmised that after Mr Thomson arrived on the scene he was in too exhausted a condition to struggle any further and "was overcome by the waves. At any rate he sank below the surface and his body was washed ashore a few minutes after. Mr Clarke was brought to land. Restorative measures were also taken in this case by members of the ■ Life-saving club, but Dr Howard, who examined the body, found the man to be quite dead.