A VISITOR DROWNED IN MAITAI RIVER.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11553, 14 February 1906, Page 2

A VISITOR DROWNED IN MAITAI RIVER.

Last evening a youth of 16, Wilfred Hannan, son ot Mr Hannan, the well-known solicitor of Greymouth, went with others to bathe in the Maitai river. The deep stretch known as Sunday Hole was selected, and several were swimming there. After a time, llannan, wishing to cross the river, and being unable to swim, walked up stream, and apparently started to wade across in what he thought was shallow water, but he had not gone up high enough, and .got out of his depth. He was not missed for a short time, and then all the bathers went to search for him, and found that he had sunk. They quickly got him to the bank, and means for restoring life were; taken, while a messenger was despatched for a doctor, and Drs Andrew and Lucas hastened to the scene Efforts to resuscitate him were continued for some time, without success. When Hannan was missed by thß youthful bathers, who were disporting themselves in the water, and they gave the alarm, three young men, who had just arrived from town, ran to the spot indicated as where he had last been seen, when Mr George Stewart, of the Railway Department, stripped immediately, and dived in and brought the body to the bank in what is described as a remarkably short space oi time. Meanwhile one of the new arrivals jumped on his bicycle, and rode at top speed for a doctor, and ha was fortunate in meeting Dr. Andrew, who was driving his motor car in Nile street. The doctor put on speed, and reached the scene of the accident in a few minutes, and Dr. Lucas, who was also informed of the casualty, also hastened to the spot, and arrived a few minutes later. Meanwhile the body, which was lying face downwards in about seven feet of water, and within two or three yards of the bank, had been carried ashore, and Messrs Harris and Roper, who were working in the vicinity, at once adopted the usual means for restoring animation. On the arrival of tho doctors they did everything that was possible, and their "efforts were not abandoned till more than an hour and a half had elapsed, and it was evidpnt that the case was hopeless. Young Hannan arrived in Nelson with his mother, and they were spending a day or two with Mr and Mrs Sham, Wakapuaka, before proceeding to Wellington, where Hannan was about to continue his studiesgat Wellington College. The lad was of a bright disposition, and his untimely end cast a gloom over all who heard the sad news. An inquest will be held at nine D'clock this morning.