DROWNING ACCIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27248, 26 November 1949, Page 4

DROWNING ACCIDENT

The Hampden Tragedy

A verdict that Alexander George Braid met ' his death on November 17 from asphyxia by drowning while swimming across Kuri Creek at Hampden was returned by the coroner, Mr H. Colquhoun, J.P., at the inquest yesterday. The deceased, who was aged 11 years, was the son of Mr and Mrs G. H. Braid, of Hampden.

Kelvin Royston Trevelyan, aged 10 years, said that after leaving school at 3 p.m. on November 17 he went to Kuri Creek for a swim, and a few minutes later the deceased arrived. Both waited until Mrs Brown arid other school children arrived, and after going Into the shallow part of the creek for a few minutes they left for the surf. Braid and witness swam around in the shallow water in Kuri Creek for a few minutes and then walked down the east bank to where it was running into the sea. Witness swam to the west bank, and’ when getting out he looked back and saw Braid in deep water about five yards from the west bank. He appeared to be splashing about as if jumping up and down. Witness called to Mrs Brown, who did not hear him, and Braid then disappeared. Witness did not hear him call out. Witness said he knew that the deceased could not swim, but could only “ dog paddle,” and had he known that the decreased was going to follow him across the creek he would have warned him not to do so. Constable John Johnson said that he recovered the body from about eight feet of, water. Artificial respiration was carried on for about an hour. The pool where the deceased was drowned was about 60 feet wide, and was dangerous to children who were not good swimmers.