YACHTING TRAGEDY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18112, 12 November 1928, Page 8

YACHTING TRAGEDY.

In Otago Harbour. FIVE MEN DROWNED. By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, November 11. A very distressing accident occurred in the lower harbour this afternoon, when a yacht carrying about six passengers, capsized off the southern side of Quarantine Island. The accident was first noticed' when the ferry steamer Waireka, which was running between the island and Dunedin, rounded a pfiint coming into the channel. The yacht appeared to be about a 16-footer, and when first seen there were three men hanging to it. Another man was seen about 60 feet away. The last-named, however, disappeared before help could be sent. The water was very rough, but a bandsman jumped off the steamer and tried to rescue one of the men hanging to the yacht, and held him up for some time, but lie finally went down. Reports of the accident are very meagre, but it is known that one man was rescued, whose name is thought to be Victor Duell, and one other was brought back in the ferry steamer, dead. Continued attempts to revive him by artificial respiration failed. The captain of the Waireka did everything it was possible to do, but no other bodies could be recovered.

The accident is regarded as one of the worst that has ever occurred on the Otago Harbour. Details of the tragedy are vague, as the police party which is investigating has not returned.