CAUGHT BY WAVE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18335, 1 March 1934, Page 11

CAUGHT BY WAVE

TWO MEN DROWNED TARANAKI TRAGEDY (Per Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, last night. Swept oft" their feet by a heavy wave while crossing a shallow lagoou at the mouth of the Waiau River, about seven miles north of Waitara, to-day, two men, R. Llewellyn Powell, 29, and K. Bedford, both of Motuuui, were drowned. Powell was a second cousin of Lady Bledisloc. His body was recovered aj>6ut 24 hours' later, but though a large force of local residents patrolled the beach, no sign of Bedford's body was seen. , - - • The two men, fully dressed, were wading across the lagoon, about 2ft. deep, to a reef stretching into the sea, in search of shellfish. They were about half-way across, when a larger wave ’bore down on them, knocking them over. The swift cur- ; rent quickly drew them, under, and both were lost to sight. ‘ j Mr Powell's wife, with two other women, were on the beach, and though efforts were made to reach-the two men. they were unavailing, j 'Help was summoned immediately, and two men, Messrs. Luxlon aud Ross, attempted to find the victims. After a watch of 2$ hours, Mr Powell’s body was found washed up on the beach about 20 chains northward -of the spot where he disappeared. • Miss. D." Newton,.-Uronui,. .tripd artificial respiration for about ah hour, but her efforts were unsuccessful. ; ' Both men wefo residents of Motunui, Bedford working for Powell.on the latter’s farm. Powell was an English public school boy, who had come to New Zealand about 1927. He was a married man with two children. Both wero wellknown members of the Taranaki Hunt Club. ■ ■