BATHER DROWNED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25737, 8 January 1945, Page 2

BATHER DROWNED

TENACIOUS FIGHT FOR LIFE RESTORATIVE MEASURES FAIL (P.A.)' WELLINGTON, Jan. 7. About an hour and a-half after his admission to the Wellington Hospital, where the iron lung was used m an unavailing attempt at resuscitation, John Brown Scott, aged 44, of the staff of the Union Bank of Australia, Wellington, died at 9.45 p.m. on Saturday from the effects of long immersion in the surf at Titahi Bay. where he had been carried out while bathing from the beach five hours earlier when caught in a strong riptide. Mr Scott resided at 312 Tinakori road. He was born at Catlins, and his wife and two young children were absent on holiday at Roxburgh when the fatality occurred. He made a tenacious fight for life, and his fate was nearly shared by a fellow bather, Mr R. J. Thomas, aged 39, an accountant in''the same bank. Both men had been only a short time in the water when, with the spring tide on the ebb and a heavy sea running, they were suddenly swept away by tlje terrific undertow. The plight of the men was noticed, but the heavy surf made it impossible to launch a boat. After being for over an hour in the sea, Mr Thomas eventually succeeded in coming in across the current, and reached the shore in an exhausted state. , , . Mr Scott was still struggling, but when two members of the Titahi,Bay Surf Club set out on a rescue attempt lie disappeared. After a search, his body was found floating 60 yards from ihe shore. He was still alive, and restorative measures were applied. Later he was taken to the hospital by ambulance.