A SAD DROWNSNG.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 7, 18 December 1911, Page 5

A SAD DROWNSNG.

PARENT’S MAIN SUPPORT LOSES HIS LIFE. A PLUCKY BROTHER. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, December 18. Gerald Byrne, locomotive fireman, 24 years of age, was drowned at St. George’s Bay yesterday afternoon through the swamping of a dinghy.Deceased’s brother, William, 20 years of age, and two other men, Harry Colder and Michael Lanigan, were rescued, though Byrne was in an exhausted condition, and was taken to the hospital. They were all residents of Ponsonhy, the man drowned living with his parents, of whom lie was the main support. The men comprised the crew of the yacht Cora, and had just returned from a cruise and anchored 150yds from the shore. At three o’clock they started to row ashore in their dinghy. A gale was blowing from the north-west, and ifi the heavy choppy sea the boat was swamped "and almost immediately capsized with the men beneath it. They succeeded in extricating themselves, hut the tide commenced to sweep them down the harbour. The accident was observed from the shore, find several men went to the rescue in dinghies. Gerald Byrne alone was unable" to swim. Ho was held up by his brother until assistance reached them. The four men were then picked up and taken ashore. The elder Bryne was found to he dead, and bis brother had collapsed, apparently in a serious condition. The other members of the crew had not suffered any serious injury. William Byrne recovered under treatment, and is reported to be out of danger.