HIS LIFE FOR HIS WIFE’S

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 171, 10 October 1927, Page 13

HIS LIFE FOR HIS WIFE’S

SAD DROWNING FATALITY | An epic story of a husband who sacrificed his life for his wife and of an invalid ex-soldier-who bravely followed to the rescue was told to the Cleethorpes (England) coroner. An inquest was held on Frank Meredith, aged 42, a coal-trimmer, of Ede Avenue, Dunston-on-Tyne, who was drowned at Cleethorpes. The widow said that she and her husband were holiday-making at Cleethorpes. Her husband was a nonswimmer, and while she bathed he sat on the beach. She had been swimming? for ten minutes when she found that she could not make headway against the current, nor could she touch the bottom. Plunged Into Sea She called for help, and immediately her husband jumped up, threw off his coat and plunged to her aid. Though he could not swim and was out of his depth, he reached her, and they clasped hold of each other, but could not get back to the shore. She held on to him as long as she could, then lost her grip and felt someone dragging her ashore. “X was not unconscious, but dazed,’ she said. George Smith, aged 52, an Army pensioner, of Clayton Street, Bradford, said he heard a woman scream and saw her struggling in the water. He saw a man go to her aid, then, realised that both wc;re in difficulties. Smith said he could swim, but was suffering from nephr.tis and was not very strong. He swam out to the couple and both seized him, the man round the neck and the woman by the; arm. He tried to swim with them like that and got some distance when the man lost his hold. He towed the woman to shallow water and an elderly man waded out and helped her ashore. “I was dead beat,” said Smith. Recording a verdict of death from misadventure, the coroner said it must be some consolation to Mrs. Meredith to know that her husband was so devoted that he was prepared to risk his life for her. Smith had behaved very bravely. He had risked his life ancl perha.ps his future health. Mrs. Meredith owed her life to him. Speaking with emotion. Smith said ' Thank you! I only did my duty. [ wish I could have saved him as well.”