WEST COAST REPORTS THIRD DROWNING IN THREE DAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18043, 31 December 1926, Page 2

WEST COAST REPORTS THIRD DROWNING IN THREE DAYS.

YOUNG WOMAN PRAISED FOR RESCUE WORK. (Special to the “Star.”Y GREYMOUTH, December 31 The third drowning tragedy in three da vs occurred yesterday on the est ( oast, when a nineteen-vear-old native of Italy, Sante Tommasi. lost his life while bathing in the surf at Seven Mile Beach Another Italian. Fulvio Dalle N’ogare. owes his life to the gallantry .of a young lady,Miss Nellie Newton, of Dunnollie, who swam to his rescue and held the unconscious man up until further help arrived. At the inquest to-day the Coroner. Mr W. Meldrum. presided, and the proceedings were conducted by SeniorSergeant P. J. M’Carthy, while Signor Gerald PerOtti acted as interpreter. Norman George Griffiths. miner, Runanga, said that about 2 pm. yesterday he was swimming at Seven Mile and saw the two Italians waist-deep in the surf, at the mouth of Seven Mile Creek. When he saw that they were in trouble he swam into the beach from his position fifty yards out to sea. Tommasi had disappeared and Miss Newton was holding Nogare up by his bathing costume. Other aid arrived and Nogare was got ashore, recovering later. While searching for Tommasi witness found a gutter eight feet deep, which the men had apparently walked into. The body was washed up an hour later. Had the Italians been able to swim at all. witness considered they certainly could have got out. Louis Paganini, miner. Rtlnanga, said that Tommasi was nineteen years of age and a native of Conco, Italy. He had been in New Zealand eighteen months. His parents, two sisters and four brothers lived in Italy, and three cousins resided on the West Coast. The Senior-Sergeant said that apparently Nogare would also have lost his life but for Miss Newton’s splendid efforts. The Coroner returned a verdict that Tommasi was accidentally drowned. He said that great praise was due to Miss Newton for her promptitude and courage in rescuing Nogare. ORET RIVER FATALITY. A search is still being made for the body of John Gibbs, who was drowned in the Grey River at Dobson. It is feared that the body may have been swept out to sea.