AWAKINO FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1924, Page 6

AWAKINO FATALITY.

YOUNG MAN DROWNED. BODY NOT RECOVERED. MAY STILL BE IN RIVER. All attempts to recover the body of Duncan Hepburn., who was drowned in the Awakino River on September 18, have proved unsuccessful. On account of the depth of the water, the uneven bottom of the river, and the current, if is thought that the body has become lodged i>i one of the numerous crevices under the papa and sandstone cliffs.

Constable H. Blaikie, of Mokau. who has been directing the dragging operations in the river, has forwarded a report to Inspector Murray, of New Plymouth, in which he states that where the body was last seen the river is 20 feet deep in places even at low tide. On the day of the accident it was high tide, with a heavy sea running along the coast, and the body was washed up the river. Constable Blaikie is of the opinion that the body is still in the river, but in a few days may be washed out to sea and, owing to the nature of the currents, would then be likely to be found on the Pioi beach, about two miles from the mouth of the river.

Mr. Hepburn, senior, who was called to Awakino from Hawera, stated that his son would have been eighteen on December 25 and that he was a good swimmer, having won two certificates.

A deposition made by deceased’s uncle, who was with Hepburn at the time of the accident, William Hunt, states that he and Hepburn were going fishing. Hepburn let his horse go as soon as it started to swim and began to swim towards the Pioi (north) side of the river. Hunt got across, but his nephew shouted for him to go back and get him. Catching the bigger horse, which Hepburn had been riding, Hunt rode back, but the horse went under, and he was thrown off. He hung to the horse’s mane and was taken out of the river on the Awakino side. He could not swim. Hepburn had disappeared when the horse came up after Hunt was thrown off.

Mrs. Hunt saw the occurrence from the bank of the river.