HEROIC RESCUE ATTEMPT

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1929, Page 9

HEROIC RESCUE ATTEMPT

TWO MAORI GIRLS DROWNED

FIGHT TO SAVE SISTER’S LIFE

CORONER COMMENDS RELATIVES

(By Wire —Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night. The story of how a Maori girl, aged 17, fought for her younger sister’s life and lost her own in a flooded creek was told at the inquest at Whangarei into the-deaths of Moke Pera and Kohi Pera.

The evidence, showed that three children were leaning over a swing bridge when the wooden rail snapped and Kohi and her small brother fell into the water. The "boy struggled ashore, but Kohi was unable to swim and Moke dived in after her. Both were in difficulties when their aunt, Mrs. Raina, swam to th© rescue. Moke clutched her and a struggle ensued.

Mrs. Raina freed herself and swam to the shore, as she thought Moke was safe. . She ran along the bank again and dived in to assist Kohi, but both girls had then disappeared. Their grandfather also removed his boots and searched in the water until he was exhausted. With the assistance of a number of natives the bodies were recovered next morning. The. coroner found the girls met their death as the result of accidental drowning. He complimented the grandfather and the aunt on tlie heroic efforts they had made to rescue the girls.