BEACH BACH TRAGEDY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14067, 14 February 1939, Page 7

BEACH BACH TRAGEDY

AUSTRALIAN VISITOR BURNED TO DEATH.

Electric Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND February 12.

Within a week oi his arrival at Auckland, an Australian Visitor was burned to death in a fire which destroyed a bacli in Piha early this morning. He was a married man with five children. his family still being :n Sydney. His companion, also an Aus-

tralian, was unable to attempt a rescue and had to dash . from the

blazing building to save his ewn life. The victim was Gordon Robert McKay, aged 43. fruit preserver, Rlirwood. Sydney. All* AlcKay had taken £2OO in Australian banknotes with him to Piha and the whole amount was lost in the fire. His companion. James Arthur Talbot, aged 38. fruit preserver, also of Burwood, •Sydney, lost everything he haci taken to the beach, including £33 in Australian currency.

About 1.30 a.in. Air Talbot was wakened by a fairly loud bumping

sound and he found flames beginning to lick through the panelling. Realising the need for ouick action he thrust open the door in the hope of dragging Air AlcKay to safety, but he was immediately driyen back by a. wall of flame. The bent singed Mr Talbot’s face and clothing a s bo staggered back to safety and by the time he had escaped from the bach the four-roomed wood and iron building was well ablaze.

Air Talbot, who suffered considerably from shock, ran for assistance, but the earliest two arrivals Hound it im possible to force an entry to Air Alt Kay’s room. One broke through flic* back door but was driven out again by the fierce heat. Xz vns now obvious that nothing furthei could be done to rescue Air AlcKay. His remains were recovered later