BOTH DROWNED

Southland Times, Issue 21265, 11 December 1930, Page 6

BOTH DROWNED

TEACHER AND PUPIL END TO SWIMMING LESSON THREE EYE-WITNESSES ' (Per United Press Association.) Palmerston North, December 10. A drowning tragedy occurred near the Komato settlement in Fohangina Valley this morning, Miss E. Dommett, a school teacher, aged 23, and a pupil, Vernon Charles Ferguson, aged 9, losing their lives.. The only eye-witnesses were three other school children. When the school assembled this morning only four pupils were present. Near midday the teacher suggested a ■ swimming lesson in the Backwash River, containing water over , six feet. At the time of the misnap, the other children state, she was teaching Ferguson to swim. They were not taking particular notice.-'The first warning of tragedy was when they saw’ Miss Dommett fall and float down into the rapids. Ferguson had dropped into deep water from her arms. As the children could do nothing, one hastened for help. The others , went after the teacher, whom they dragged out unconscious a distance down the stream. Nearby settlers were on the scene as soon as possible and got the boy out of the hole. They tried artificial respiration unsuccessfully. -. . : ~ .