SPORTSMAN DROWNED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4046, 11 May 1938, Page 12

SPORTSMAN DROWNED

WAIKATO RIVER TRAGEDY. DINGHY CAUGHT IN RAPIDS. Tragedy overtook a party of Hamilton men engaged in pig shooting in the Taupo district on Sunday, when a boat in which two members were crossing the Waikato River at O-.iga-roto, capsized, and Mr Cyril Hedge (43)_. married, of Primrose Street. Frankton, was drowned. The party, wh’.ch consisted of Messrs Joseph Winstanley, of Frankton, Francis William Swetman, of Whatawhata, J. H. Winstanley, of Frankton, Walter Bernard Swetman, of Korakonui, John Terry Muller, of Frankton, and the deceased, left Hamilton at 4 a.m., arriving at Ongarot-o about 6.30 a.m. A nine-foot Vbottom dinghy was used to cross the Waikato River at a point about four miles below Atiamuri. Mr Joseph Winstanley ( tossed the river first in the dinghy and then returned for his son, Mr J. H. Winstanley, whom he left on the opposite bank after the pair had stretched a fencing wire across the river to facilitate further crossings in the dinghy. Mr Winstanley, senior, embarked on the third crossing with Mr Hedge, two dogs, rifles and provisions. He was standing in the bow working the boat across, hand over hand, Mr Hedge being behind him. When they were about half-way across, the current caught the dinghy and swung it s : deways. Water came in over the back and the craft capsized, both deceased and Winstanley being thrown into the current. Mr Winstanley struck out for the bank but was swept to the side where the remaining members of the party were standing. He just managed to reach safety and was pulled out of the water in an exhausted condition. Mr Hedge, who was unable to swim, was swept into the rapids and disappeared.