ST. KILDA SURF FATALITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22122, 28 November 1933, Page 2

ST. KILDA SURF FATALITY

INQUEST ON VICTIM LIFE-SAVER’S GALLANTRY COMMENDED, An inquest on the body of Dorothy Edith Dodds, the nine-yoar-old girl who was drowned in the surf at St. Kilda on Saturday afternoon, was held at the Morgue yesterday afternoon, Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., sitting as coroner. Sergeant M’Entee represented the police, and Mr E. A. Duncan watched proceedings on behalf of the Presbyterian Social Service. Andrew Dodds, a labourer employed at the Waitaki Hydro, identified the body as that of his daughter who had been an inmate of the Presbyterian Orphanage at Anderson’s Bay for three years. Hazel Churchward, matron of the Somerville Cottage of the Anderson’s Bay Presbyterian Orphanage, said that on Saturday afternoon she took 19 <‘f her charges for an outing to St. Kilda. The party arrived at the beach shortly after 2 o’clock, and about 3 o’clock 14 of the children went in for a bathe. Witness saw two flags on the beach, and the children entered the water between these, while she sat on the sandhills about a chain away and in full view of them. The children were in the water only up to their knees, and later, when some of the girls were dressing two of the bigger ones told witness that Dorothy Dodds was missing. Witness then saw the life-saving team running along the beach. The child was very healthy, and was not subject to illness or fits of any kind.

To the coroner: The deceased had been to the beach before, and for her age she was a good swimmer. To Mr Duncan: Before leaving the home she had arranged to meet a friend who was going to assist her in looking after the children. This friend only arrived in accordance with a rule of the home that two adults should accompany such parties of children visiting the beach.

Finlay Thomas Scott, a waiter residing in Oxford street, said that about 3.30 on Saturday afternoon, as he was going for a swim at St. Kilda, he saw five children in difficulties in the water, three of them being together, and two a little distance further along. . They were not very far out, but they were south of the flags. Witness got three of the children ashore, and as he turned he found that one of the remaining two had come out, while tne other was out beyond the first line of breakers. He tried to get out to her, but the current, which was running very strongly in a southerly direction, washed him back. There was a deep hole at the southern end of the flags. In the meantime the alarm had been given, and the life-saving team came on the scene and brought the child ashore. Everything possible was done for her when she was brought out of the water.

To Mr Duncan: There were some members of the life-saving club on duty at the time, but he could not see any of them. It would be easy for anyone to be swept from the flagged area t>v the current.

Reginald Alfred Baker, an optician's mechanic, residing at High St. Kilda, and a member of the St. Kilda Life-Saving Club, said that about 3 o’clock on Saturday be, along with some other members of the club, was erecting a warning bell on the sandhills, when someone came up and told them that there was a child in difficulties. The flagged area of the beach was in full view of where he and the others were working. A team immediately made for a spot between 100 and 200 yards south of the flags, and witness went out to support the child, Victor Sturgeon following as beltman. Witness swam out about 200 yards, but on seeing nothing he came back in a northerly direction, thinking he had gone out too far. He then sighted the child, who was drifting towards Lawyer’s Head, and he swam to her mid handed her to Sturgeon, at the same time giving the signal to haul in. Witness Lad not sufficient strength to hold on to the line, and he was forced to reach the shore as best he could, being almost unconscious when he emerged from the water.

The witness Hazel Churchwarden, recalled, gave evidence of the efforts at resuscitation made by thj life-savers, who, she said, must have worked over the child for nearly an hour before being relieved by two members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. A doctor arrived later, but he could only pronounce life extinct.. In witness’s opinion the lifesavers did everything in their nowor to save the child.

The coroner said that the drowning of the child was one of those unfortunate fatalities thift occurred from time ro time, and he could not see that blame was attachable to anyone. Great credit was due to all those who were concerned in the attempted rescue, particularly the witness Baker, who swam out a considerable distance before he recovered the body, and got back only with difficultyHe could only find that death was due to accidental drowning.