SAD TRAGEDY

Opunake Times, 10 February 1939, Page 2

SAD TRAGEDY

SMALL BOY'S DEATH ACCIDENTAL DROWNING Returning a verdict of accidental drowning, no blame beiua' attachable to anyone, the district eoronei, Mi. R. S. Sage, who conducted the inquest into the death of Michael Denis O'Rorke, infant son of Mr. and

Mrs. M. J. O'Rorke, yesterday, ■expressed sympathy with the parents and relatives in their sad accident. Found on Tuesday in a pool oi" water outside the home of. Mr. D. D- o'Sullivan, will) whom he was staying, the twen-ty-months old toddler failed to respond to restorative measures promptly applied.

iu evidence given by Miss Annie o'Sullivan, aunt of the child, it was stated that at 6.15 p.m., on Tuesday, the boy was washed and prepared for bed Shortly afterwards he was missed, and it was -presumed that lie wandered out of the back of the house, and crawled through a hole in the fence beside a small water-channel. From there he apparently fell into a pool of water about' 18 inches, deep. Witness discovered the boy

there no more than a minute or two after he, was missed, and he was taken into the house, Dr. W. Watt being summoned immediately from Opunake. Dr. W. Watt was promptly on the scene, and instantly applied restorative measures which he maintained for a lengthy period without avail, life being- extinct. The verdict of accidental death was accordingly returned by the coroner.

Many district residents numbered among the. wide circle of friends of the bereaved parents attended the funeral which was held yesterday. A. large cortege followed the hearse from the Catholic church to the Opunake, cemetery.