STRANGE TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26042, 4 January 1946, Page 4

STRANGE TRAGEDY

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING BATHER KILLED INSTANTLY ELECTRICAL DISTURBANCE (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 3. Mervyn Lloyd Candy, a married man, aged 35 years, residing at Mersey street, St. Albans, was killed when bathing at the North Brighton beach to-day, apparently through being struck by lightning. Mr Candy, who was spending his holidays with his wife at New Brighton, went bathing about 2 o'clock in the afternoon with Mr A. T. Dalton, president of the North Brighton Surf Club, and Mr S. Nicholls, another member of the club. When they were about 100 yards from the shore there was a terrific flash of lightning and a crash of thunder, which left Messrs Dalton and Nicholls dazed. As they reached the beach, thinking that Candy was following them, they noticed a signal that a bather was in difficulties and that a team of surf club members was taking to the water. Dazed as they were by the shock, they returned to the water and almost immediately found the body and brought it to the shore. An ambulance arrived shortly afterwards and the body was taken to the morgue. Spectators on the beach said they plainly saw the lightning strike Candy on the head, but when the body was brought to land there was no sign of injury or burning as might have been expected. Many people who were spending the day on the beach felt a severe shock when the lightning struck, and the North Beach Surf Club pavilion shook and rattled. Men who had recently returned with the fighting forces described the noise as that similar to heavy rifle or machine-gun fire.

Mr Candy was a strong swimmer and a regular surf bather. He was a breaststroke swimmer of championship standard, and was a member of the Elmwood Swimming Club for many years, and a member of the committee of the club. He was also a valuable member of the Sumner Surf Club teams a few years ago.