RAGLAN BOAT TRAGEDY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 February 1929, Page 5

RAGLAN BOAT TRAGEDY

STOKY OF BOY'S HEROISM.

VERDICT AT INQUEST.

RAGLAN, Last Night.

The story of Lewis Park's her'oism, •when his father was drowned in a boating tragedy on the Raglan bar prompted the jury at the inquest to ask the coroner to inform the Royal Humane Society of the circumstances. "William H. Park, a married fisherman of Raglan aged 36, and Clarence Walker, aged 24, Ngaruawahia, were drowned on January 2o when a launch was swamped on the Raglan bar. Park's son Lewis and Lewis Bertling were als'oi in the boat, and they reached shore after three hours' struggle with the waves. Lewis Park made great efforts to save his father, holding him up for a considerable time. William Park was unconscious and probably dead when washed away.

The accident was seen from the shore, and E. Gavin and party took a launch to the bar in an attempt to rescue, but the seas were too heavy, and they were unable to approach the wreck.

At the inquest, the verdict of which was that' the drowning was accidental, the story was told of how Lewis Park held his father on the wreckage for hours, even after he was apparently dead. Evidence showed that Lewis Park afterwards aided Lewis Bertling, who was unable to swim, to reach the shore. . \