WEEK-END DROWNINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19767, 15 February 1927, Page 8

WEEK-END DROWNINGS

SEVERAL FATALITIES SURF CLAIMS A VICTIM [ Per Press Association. ] ' HASTINGS, Feb. .14. While bathing in rough surf at Waimarama Beach yesterday, Alexander Mitchell Wighton, aged 48, married, a farmer of Hastings, was drowned. Miss Doris Bono, who swain to Wighton to warn him not to go too far, got into difficulties herself, but she was rescued. Pat Baker went out with a line but could not locate Wighton and had to be hauled* ashore soon after. A bather at Haumoana Beach yesterday was rescued with difficulty. NARROW ESCAPES AT DUNEDIN [ Per Press Association. 1 DUNEDIN, Feb. 14. There were two narrow escapes from drowning at St. Clair Beach yesterday. The life-saving team was having a practice run when the “patient” took cramp and drifted some distance to sea. Two reels were quickly brought into play and after a hard struggle he was brought ashore, where he recovered. Immediately afterwards an alarm was again raised. The drowning person was drifting rapidly out with the tide. McLean, a high-school boy, quickly wont to his assistance. He reached the man, keeping him afloat until a senior life-saving team, had manned the reel. By this time the man was nearly unconscious, but later recovered. GIRL DROWNED IN BATHS [Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Feb. 13. Lyle Alargaret Stella Ratcliffe, aged 101, was drowned on Saturday afternoon in the Thorndon baths. When going to the assistance of Minnie Day, who had got out of her depth, tho caretaker, Edward Frank James Waters, was told that a girl’s clothes were in the dressing room and the girl could not be found. He dived in and found the girl lying on the bottom face upwards.. The baths were crowded, but no one can be found who saw the’ occurrence. VICTIM OF CRAMP (Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, Feb. 14. David McGregor, a draper of Riverton, while bathing in the Aparima river on Saturday evening was seized with cramp and immediately sank. The body was recovered promptly by others bathing in the vicinity, but life was extinct. MAORI BOYS LOST [ Per Press Association. ] NEW PLYAIOUTH. Feb. 14. Two 'Maori boys named Taiaroa Wetere and Nuhi Tangi, aged about 17 years, were drowned while bathing on the beach at Awakino on Sunday. Both were good swimmers, byt ventured too far out. Two companions reached land safely, one of whom went.out again to assist the others, but failed.