DEATHS BY DROWNING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16866, 1 February 1929, Page 2

DEATHS BY DROWNING

CAUGHT BY CURRENT ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE Further details of the recent drowning accident at Te Henga. beach, Auckland, when Herbert John Adams, 29, single, lost his life, show that heroic attempts at rescue were made. Mr. Adams, in company with a number of holiday-makers, went bathing, and. noticing the other bathers swimming at a considerable distance from the shore, he went out to warn them that, a strong under-current was running. When he came to turn back be Mmd be could make little headway. He called for help, and his plight was quickly appreciated by Mr. Trevor Blomfleld, a member oi the Takapuna Life-Saving Club, and Mr. J. S. Kinnoar, of Mt. Eden, who swam through the swirling surf to his rescue. Mr. Blomfleld states that when he went swimming with a. friend he did not notice tbo danger on making back for thi* shore. lie came across a man who said be was just about done. Meanwhile his friend had encountered trouble, and he turned and assisted hirn to safety. lie then went back and brought in the other man. It was then inheard Adams’ call for help, and he set out in a farther attempt, at res cue. Reaching the drowning man, he and ICinnear towed him almost 1o safety, but a big wave washed them further out. ‘‘After swimming in with the two others, I was just about done,” ho added, ‘‘so I decided to go in for a rope. I only got to the shore and was pretty well exhaused. Mr. Kinnear was also pretty far gone, and had to leave Adams. Someone gave me some stimulants, and with the rope attached to roe, I mado a further attempt to reach the drowning man. When I got to within 30yds. of hirn, however, a wave washed over him and he disappeared. 1 swam found for a time in the hope he would come 1o the surface again, but he did not do so, so I gave the signal to be hauled in. There was a fair crowd on the beach, but unfortunately they did not seem to know what to do. Had they come out with the rope we could have saved Adams, no doubt.” Mr. Kinnear paid a tribute to the way Adams kept bis head while he and Blomfield were attempting to rescue him. “Had it. not been for that,” be sauj, “I would not be here now. 1 am lucky to be alive.” He further pointed out that they bad got Adams to a point where they could touch bottom, but a big wave caught them and swept them out again.