GIRL DROWNED

Southland Times, Issue 22486, 22 January 1935, Page 6

GIRL DROWNED

FATALITY AT PIHA. GALLANT ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE. , (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, January 21. Elvira Livingstone, aged 20, was drowned and two men narrowly escaped drowning yesterday afternoon at Piha, where the Duke of Gloucester surfed during his Auckland visit. Miss Livingstone was swimming with S. G. Bennett, a stoker from the Diomede. They were gradually carried near the Lion Rock, where there is a strong undertow, the woman being thrown over by a succession of breakers. Bennett promptly caught her, but the waves broke his grip. Another swimmer, A. Woodlock, also failed in an attempt at rescue. Then Bennett got into difficulties, but was rescued by a life-saver with a line. Two life-savers then entered the surf to rescue Miss Livingstone, who by then had been swept far out, but one, J. L. Wilson, was diverted -to help Woodlock, who was exhausted. The other, named E. O’Brien, after 20 minutes located Miss Livingstone and brought her ashore, where other club members were waiting with hot blankets. They attempted to revive her, but in vain. It is thought that she died during the rescue. “Occurrences of this kind will never cease until surf club members are given the authority of beach inspectors,” said the captain of the Piha Surf and LifeSaving Club, J. L. Wilson, in commenting on the drowning. “Surf club members,” he declared, “should be given the power actually to order swimmers away from dangerous places instead of merely being able to advise them, which advice, I may add, is seldom taken. Even while measures were being taken to resuscitate Miss Livingstone, other people were swimming in the very place where she was drowned.”

Swimmers had repeatedly been warned not to go near the Lion Rock, where there was a terrible undertow, he said.