TWO LIVES LOST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 446, 11 December 1930, Page 7

TWO LIVES LOST

DOULE DROWNING FATALITY. GIRLS’ VAIN SACRIFICE. (Special to “Chronicle”) PALMERSTON N., Dec. 10. Two lives were lost in a sad drowning fatality at Komako, seventeen miles from Ashhurst, to-day, when a young lady teacher, Nliss E. Dommett, perished in a vain attempt to rescue a sn.all boy pupil, Vernon Ferguson, aged nine years. There were distressing features associated with the tragedy. Advice of the occurrence was received this afternoon in an urgent message to Police Superintendent Simpson, at Palmerston North, when medical aid was sought. It was reported that the bodies had been recovered and resuscitatory measures were in progress when a doctor left post haste for the scene. These, however, were applied without avail.

It appears that several small boys with whom was Vernon Ferguson, w’cre playing near the school at a creek which leads into the Pohangina River, when the boy Ferguson got into difficulties in a deep hole.’ Miss Dommett, whose home is at Crofton, near Marton, a teacher at the school, is stated to have plunged in to his assistance. She obtained a hold of the boy, according to the stories of other pupils. She swam round the pool with him, but was carried into some rapids and was forced to let go the boy. appearing to lose consciousness herself. She was carried down the crock and eventually was pulled out lower down by another boy, aged 11 years. She was then uncon-

Miss Dommett was the sole teacher at the school, but residents in tbo vicinity were soon on the scene. They applied restorative measures, but without success, and after the doctor arrived both victims were dead.

The sad news of Miss Dommett’s death was conveyed to the Wanganui Education Board yesterday by the Superintendent of Police at Palmerston North.

The meeting expressed its deep regret and referred to her plucky action in attempting to sa- e life. A motion of condolence with the relatives was carried, members standing in silence. Miss Dommett’s parents reside in Wellington Road, Marton.