HEROINE OF SEA DRAMA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 10

HEROINE OF SEA DRAMA

TORQUAY DROWNING TRAGEDY BODY OF FOURTH VICTIM. Fears that a fourth person lost his life in the distressing drowning tragedy at Livermead, Torquay, were confirmed by the recovery from the sea at Preston, Paignton, of the body of Mr Michael George Sinnott, aged 20, employed at the Livermead House Hotel, whose home was at North Molton, Devon, Of_ the three victims,' Miss Kathleen Jennings, aged 19, housemaid; Mr John Alfred Wyneh, aged 16, of Birmingham; and Mr Sidney Smith, aged 21, dairyman’s porter, of Torquay, only the body of the last-named had been found when the last vessel left England. It was at first thought that the two men lost their lives in trying to save Miss Jennings after she had gone into the water to try to rescue her employer’s Airedale dog. A new theory, however, was advanced at the inquest on Mr Sinnott, and after hearing the evidence the coroner observed: “ I am inclined to think that the first person in the sea at that terrible tragedy was Sinuot. Probably he was standing there watching the breakers, and was seen by Miss Jennings to be washed into the sea, and she tried to get the dog to help. She went back, and saw Wyncb, and said something to him. They both rushed back to see what was happening and were carried out to sea.” AN EYE-WITNESS’S ACCOUNT. Mr John L. Chaffe, who was standing about 200 yards from the Livermead slipway, watching the waves breaking over the road, at the time of the tragedy, stated that he saw a young woman with an Airedale dog pass, and next noticed her standing at the top of the slipway. He saw a dog run up the slipway into the road with a wave practically chasing it. The girl brought the dog back again and made a motion with her arm. Then she appeared to throw something down the slipway, the Airedale darted down, and a tremendous wave caught it, lifting it into the air, and then carrying it out to sea.

The young woman then disappeared, and returned with a young fellow. Together they darted down the slipway, but when they got three-quarters of the way down and saw the huge seas coming in they stood with their backs to the wall. Then a great wave came in and simply lifted them up like, feathers and earned them out to sea. Mr ChafTe stated that he saw the two forms hanging on to a plank. The dog was swimming strongly. A lifebuoy was thrown out to the couple, and the man got one of his hands on it, but instead of retaining hig hold, he hung on to the plank as well and lost the lifebuoy. While he was trying to get a lifebuoy out, Mr Chaffe stated he was swept off his feet by a wave but managed to save himself by hanging on to the rope of the lifebuoy. As he was returning un the slipway he met Smith, who said be was going down. “ CONSUMMATE BRAVERY.” Mr Chaffe said he advised Smith not to go, but he did not hesitate, and went straight down to unfasten the lifebuoy rope, which had become entangled. A wave swept over him, and he retained his hold, but another wave came and he disappeared. The second wave came and simply lifted him away seawards. The Coroner; You saw four people in the water?—-Mr Chaffe; I am absolutely certain I did. , No one in that sea would have had the slightest chance of getting out unless thrown up by the waves?—l was hoping that they would have been thrown up on to the slipway. In returning a verdict of " Found drowned, 3 ’ the coroner remarked that there was no doubt whatever that all the people, the known people and the unknown people, who tried to save the lives of those in the water acted with consummate bravery, and with grave risk to their own lives. In saying what he had said about the gallant lad Smith, he was not unconscious of the equal gallantry of the lad Wynch. With consummate gallantry he went to someone’s assistance to whom Miss Jennings had drawn his attention.