TWO BOYS DROWNED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18597, 7 January 1935, Page 7

TWO BOYS DROWNED

WAIKAREMOANA MISHAP

SLIPPED FROM ROCKS

WAIROA CAMPING PARTY

(Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day.

A double drowning fatality involving twO-, boys occurred at Waikaremoana yesterday. The victims were the sons of Mr. and Mrs. W. White, Rotonui Station, half-way between Wairoa and Nuhaka, their ages being eight years and live years. They were Robert Brunton White and John Brunton White.

The White family was on holiday at the lake. Information is meagre, but it is stated that the boys wandered away from where their parents were on the shore. They were seen standing on some rocks, from which they disappear ed. The bodies were recovered a little later.

Information concerning the accident reached town yesterday afternoon, and much sympathy was felt for the bereaved family. At 6.30 p.m. the coroner and Sergeant McGregor proceeded to Waikaremoana, and the inquest was opened this morning, but no additional light was shed on the occurrence.

BATHER IN DIFFICULTIES

LAD OF 17 RESCUED

A LONG STRUGGLE (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. A lad of 17 years, Charles Funke, oi Dairy Flat, was rescued when, close to drowning yesterday at Orewa Beach. He was swept out by the current and receding tide and was 400yds from the shore when Messrs. J. Nelson and Ansley, of Auckland, ran from a seaside cott&ge and plunged in. Another young man, who is unidentified, had previously reached him, but had to release his hold as he was himself seriously distressed and it was only with difficulty that he reached the shore.

Messrs. Nelson and Ansley found Funke practically unconscious, but he caused trouble by struggling intermittently. A third rescuer, Mr. D. Keane, arrived, but the current was running so strong that none could return. In the meanwhile the people on the beach were hastily procuring dinghies. One was found up the river and another secured by a motorist, who towed it two miles aiongi the sand behind the car. The rescuers were all feeling the effects of the three-quarters of an hour’s struggle when both dinghies arrived practically together. Funke, who was unconscious, was placed in one boat and artificial respiration begun at once. This was continued oil the beach and after some time lie recovered.