ACCIDENTAL DROWNING

Southland Times, Issue 21579, 17 December 1931, Page 7

ACCIDENTAL DROWNING

INQUEST ON LESTER KELLY.

PLUCKY ATTEMPT AT RESCUE.

A coronial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Lester Raymond Kelly, of Makarewa, was held at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon before Mr E. C. Levvey, Coroner. Sergeant Abel conducted proceedings on behalf of the police. George Joseph William Gorton, a farmer residing at Makarewa, gave formal evidence of identification. Witness said he was an uncle of deceased who was a schoolboy, 121 years old. On December 6 witness, deceased and Alan Hughes went to the Makarewa River to fish. Witness moved up-stream to fish, while Hughes and the deceased prepared for a swim. About 20 minutes later Hughes came running to witness calling that deceased was in a deep hole. Witness ran down stream and dived in, but had to dive three times before he found deceased under a ledge. He applied artifical respiration for some time without result. Deceased had probably been in the water about 20 minutes because witness was about 20 chains up-stream. Deceased could swim a few strokes, but was by no means expert in the water and had only finished his dinner about 10 minutes before he entered the water. There was no evidence of cramp. He was a healthy boy, but had recently recovered from an attack of influenza.

Alan Frederick Hughes said he had gone to the river with deceased and they had decided to go for a swim. Deceased said he knew a good place to swim and they went down-stream to it. They undressed and witness went into the water and was paddling around, but could not swim. Deceased said: “Here goes,” and dived in head first. He rose to the surface, gave a few kicks and went under again. He did not cry out and witness could not say whether he struck his head on the bottom or not. Witness believed that he had gone straight into deep water because he looked quite normal when he rose. Witness saw bubbles rising and thought there must be something wrong and went in after him. He got hold of deceased, but could not lift him and as deceased appeared to be pulling him down he was forced to let go. As he could not swim he had some difficulty getting ashore, but as soon as he reached the bank he ran and called Gorton.

Constable A. Mcßae gave evidence of having been called to the scene of the accident. The boy was quite dead when he arrived and there were no marks on the body or signs of cramp.

The Coroner found that deceased was accidently drowned in the Makarewa River on December 9.