TOKOMARU BAY FATALITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17179, 8 February 1930, Page 5

TOKOMARU BAY FATALITY

BATHER’S REMAINS POUND HEROIC ATTEMPT AT RESCUE (Special to the Herald.) TOKOMARU HAY, this day. The remains of Mr. Cecil (Jack) Hampton, 24, the telephone exchange clerk, who was drowned while swimming in the breakers at Ongaruru beach, near Tokomar.u Hay, on the afternoon of Thursday, January 30, were found yesterday washed up on the shore near the Tokomaru Bay Hotel, about one and a-half miles from the scene of the fatality. All that was left was a mere skeleton, but despite this identification was made. Deceased, who had been stationed at Tokomaru Hay for the past two years, in company with Messrs. Dougins Burnett and Charles Little, went swimming outside the breakers on the southern end of the beach on January 30. When Mr. Hampton suddenly called for help Mr. Little, who was some distance away, went to his aid. Mr. Little is 'a strong swimmer, and succeeded in getting close to deceased, advising him to remove some of his clothing. Almost immediately afterwards a large breaker separated them, and when Mr. Little came lo the surface he could see no sign of his companion. Mr. Little was beginning to feel exhausted by this time, but was assisted ashore .by Mr. Burnett, who had procured a rope. In the meantime ft telephone message was sent to tho police, and Sergeant Carroll arrived to find the two men on the bench. Messrs. Wnaku Clarke and Brndmore set out from the shore in a boat, and patrolled the locality for two hours, but no trace of the body was found.

An inpucst will be hold at Toko rnaru Bav this afternoon.