SOLDIER DROWNED IN WANGANUI RIVER
BOY’S HEROIC RESCUE EFFORTS (United Press Association) TAUMARUNUI, December 19. Freedom John Valentine Coombes, aged 21 years, a lance-corporal on final leave from Papakura, was drowned in the Wanganui river at Te Whakarae, a few miles from Taumarunui. The deceased was swimming across the river with a boy, Richard Woolston, aged nine years, on his back when he contracted cramp and sank. The brother of the boy, Alan Woolston, aged 12 years, rescued Richard and then recovered Coombes’s body speedily after considerable effort. Artificial resuscitation was tried unsuccessfully,. An inquest was opened and a verdict of accidental drowning was returned. The Coroner commended the bravery of Alan Woolston and said he would recommend him for the Royal Humane Society’s decoration.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19391220.2.45
Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 24004, 20 December 1939, Page 8
Word Count
125SOLDIER DROWNED IN WANGANUI RIVER Southland Times, Issue 24004, 20 December 1939, Page 8
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Southland Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.