FATALITY AT ST. KILDA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 35

FATALITY AT ST. KILDA.

YOUNG MAN DROWNED.

LADY’ COMPANION RESCUED

While bathing in the surf at St. Kilda on Sunday afternoon a young man named Janies Rackley was drowned. His age was 20 years. In company with a girl named Marion O’Connell, the young man was bathing about 100 yards on the Lawyer’s Head side of the safety zone, which is clearly marked by two red flags. There were few people in the vicinity at the time, but those who saw the Lathers did not at first realise they were in any danger, as both swimmers were within their depth. On hearing the girl call out another swimmer helped her ashore, while two others attempted to swim out to Rackley. A particularly heavy surf was running, and this, in conjunction with a very strong tide rip, setting towards Lawyer’s Head, rendered their efforts futile, and by the time they were able to reach the spot where Rackley was last seen he had disappeared. Unfortunately, the lifesaving team was not in attendance, and although a volunteer team quickly manned the reel they were unable to find any trace of the missing man. Rackley, who was employed at Shacklock’s foundry, resided at the corner of Richardson and Dalgety. streets, St. Kilda. This is the first drowning accident which has occurred at St. Kilda for nearly five years.