YACHTING TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26596, 20 October 1947, Page 6

YACHTING TRAGEDY

BOAT SWAMPED IN ROUGH SEAS P.A. AUCKLAND, Oct. 19. A young yachtsman was drowned when his boat was swamped on Maniikau Harbour on Saturday afternoon. He was Ronald Geoffrey Humphrey, aged 19, of Laingholm. Accompanied by another youth, Edward Dick, also of Laingholm, Humphrey was sailing about a quarter of a mile from the shore. The boat, which was a 14-foot yacht was swamped in rough seas and Dick, who was equipped with a lifebelt, stayed with it to secure some year while Humphrey, swam to the shore for asistance. When he was about halfway ’between the .boat and the shore Humphrey called Out for help and the other youth swam to him. Humphrey clung to the life belt while they swam, toward the shore, but when they had gone about 10 yards the former relaxed his hold and disappeared. Dick continued to the shore, where he arrived in an exhausted condition. The body has not been recovered. PEDESTRIANS KILLED P.A. HASTINGS, Oct. 19. Two elderly women pedestrians who were .crossing the road were injured when a motor" cyclist, who also suffered serious injuries, collided with them about 5 p.m. last night. Those injured are: Mrs Emm Wilson, of Whakatu, fractured leg, severe injuries. and shock, condition very seri ous; Warren R. Hakawhai. a young Maori, of Fernhill, the rider- of the motor cycle, fractured base of the skull and concussion, condition very serious; Mrs Alice Ferguson, of Whakatu. sisted of Mrs Wilson, head injuries condition not serious. The pedestrians were crossing a busy suburban road at an intersection when they were struck by the motor cycle. A pillion rider received abrasions but was not admitted to hospital. SMALL BOY DROWNED P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 19. Falling into the Hutt River at Upper Hutt on Saturday afternoon, a three-year-old boy was drowned. His body was recovered about 9 a.m. to-day He was Paul Walsh, son of Mr and Miv J. F. Walsh, of Gibbons road, Upper Hutt. He was playing with other young children on . the river bank when •he fell into the river, which was in flood after the heavy rain of the two previous days. He was quickly carried away. The other children reported the accident at once and a search was made, but it was not until this morning that the body was discovered near Moonshine bridge, abou I a mile below the spot where the boy fell in. INJURIES TO RIBS Harry Ledgerwood, aged 46, of 49 Somerville street, Anderson’s Bay, was admitted to the Dunedin Hospital at 5.30 p.m. yesterday suffering from injuries to his ribs, the result of an accident with his motor cycle on the main highway near Henley.