DROWNED IN THE SURF.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14236, 2 March 1917, Page 5

DROWNED IN THE SURF.

sky kisA ii n\n i^uyv_,i-:si;Ai».KS. The Auckland Herald's correspondent telegraphed the following additional particular.'- : A tragic bathing fatality occurred at Waihi Head, on Sfliiday forenoon, the victim being a man named William l'aton. Two other bathers were rescued with great difficulty,, and m a completely exhausted condition, and a fourth, who was the lirst to go to the assistance of those m trouble, was also brought ashore iv a gtate of exhaustion. As usual quite a number of bathers were m the surf at the time, but the deceased and a young woman named Miss -Red fern, were further out m the breakers than the others, while near them was a- man named Thomas O'Connor. The first .to recognise' that l'aton and Miss Red fern were m. difficulties was Mr Charles Dellamore, uiib; being a powerful swimmer, ininiediately went to their assistance. Sfeteing hold of the -young woman, he struck out towards the shore, but she cluug to his neck, and lie hadfsome difficulty iA' disengaging her. When he considered "that she' was safe he made for Paton,. and was helping him shorewards, when he saw that Miss Redfeni was again being washed out. Paton told Dellamore to leave him and look after the young woman. Meamvhile Messrs Charles Wilson and J. Lockington* who were also m the water, recognising the seriousness of the position, made off for the life-saving apparatus, which was near the dressing sheds. .As they had to cany the reel some di_.tai.ee,' they were by no means m good condition for the task before .them, but they immediately ran out the rope and dashed into the surf. With the assistance of Mr Ryan they first rescued Miss Redfern and then O'Connor and Dellamore. They saw nothing of Paton, who had apparently been carried out by the undertow. For several minutes he was. seen- by those on shore, battling with the breakers, but then disappeared, and was seen no more. Tlie body has not yet been recovered.. But for the timely assistance rendered m the first instance hy Deliamore Miss Redfern would certainly have lost her life, and there is "little doubt but that O'Connor would have been drowned- had not Messrs Lockington and Wilson come to .the rescue with the life-saving reel, which was placed on tho beach by the Life-wiving Club to moot such emergencies. So exhausted was Dellamore after his strenuous- efforts that he too might have been drowned had- the reel' not besn brought to use. This is the first fatality that has occurred on the Waihi Beach. Under normal conditions it is not considered treacherous, but after heavy gale, and unusually high tides, «nch as have been experienced lately, there is a strong undercurrent m certain places, and even strong swimmers shduld not " then. venture 100 far from the shore. • The deceased, who was a miner, had be?n ir. Waihi ior about 12' months. He was a widower and a native of Ballarat, Victoria, Where he leaver three children, _■— — ••■ ■■ — — ■___