ACCIDENT IN TIMARU HARBOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19231, 11 July 1932, Page 8

ACCIDENT IN TIMARU HARBOUR

FISHERMAN DIES IN HOSPITAL. HEROIC RESCUE WORK BY MATE The small ballast wharf adjoining Tlmaru’s Marine Parade was the scene of a grim tragedy shortly after 5 o’clock cn Saturday night, when Harold Teare Joughin (40), a fisherman, of Sumner, Christchurch, lost his life, despite heroic efforts at rescue by his mate, Arthur Leslie Arneson. The deceased, who was a single man, was part owner of the fishing vessel, Konene, which for some time has been moored alongside the ballast wharf. In view cf a scarcity cf fish around Lyttelton, Mr Joughin and h's mate decided to try Timaru’s fishing grounds, and they sailed the vessel from the northern port recently. It is understood that the men boarded and left the vessel by means of a ladder which was attached to the piles of the wharf. The ladder was fastened to the wharf at the top. and projected slightly above the wharf. The bottom of the ladder, it is said, swung free near the boat. Although no information yet is very definite, it is believed that Joughin was preparing to descend the ladder to go aboard, wTien the vessel, which is I alongside the wharf, bumped the botj tom of the ladder and pushed the top l of i out from the wharf. Joughin lost ; his hold and fell a distance of about 10 ! or 12 met on to cases which were ; stacked on one side of the Konene. ! Deceased, it is then understood > w T as | precipitated into the water, and alI though r good swimmer, sank immedi- ! ate:v. His mate, Arneson, who was j with him at the time, pluckilv dived to i ihe rescue, but aft'-r swimming about 1 for some minutes, he v r as unsuccessful, : and made for the crossbeams under the j wharf. A minute or two later, it is unj derstood, Arneson noticed his com- ! panion in the water, and managed to j bring him under the wharf. There was ! no one about at the time, and Arneson ! had extreme difficulty in supporting I the unfortunate man. After attempting | artificial respiration under very difficult conditions, for approximately ten minutes, it is believed that Arneson’s plight was noticed, and Joughin was taken across the parade to the tea rooms, where he was attended by Dr. G. R. Kingston, and later conveyed by St. John Ambulance to the Hospital, where he died shortly before 9 p.m. It is thought that deceased w r as injured by the fail on to the vessel’s side, and that this accounted for his helplessness in the water. It is said that he did not regain consciousness before he passed away. The action of Mr Arneson was very commendable, and he too, it is said, was badly fatigued as a result of the effect of the icy cold water, and the hard struggle he experienced in bringing the drowning man to the wharf supports. Inquest Opened. An inquest for the purpose of identification was opened at the Police S ration yesterday before Mr A. L. Gee (Coroner), when evidence was given by William Cleave Joughin (Christchurch), brother of deceased. The inquest was adjourned until July 14th, at 11 a m.