KNOCKED INTO RIVER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 34, 9 February 1934, Page 4

KNOCKED INTO RIVER

MANGAWEKA RESIDENT DROWNED IN RANGITIKEI HIT BY FALLING PAPA BOCK. Struck on the head by a falling piece of papa rock yesterday afternoon, J. Boy Blake, married, aged about 38, was drowned in the Kangitikoi River, which was in flood. A companion, Lcn Moyle, pluckily attempted a rescue, jumping down the 30ft. face of the river bank fully dressed and with gumboots on, but just failed to secure a grip as Blake was swept into the rapids at tho junction of the Mangawariki and the Rangitikci. Blake, who was a returned soldier and had won the Afilitary Aledal on active service, was assisting to clear a •slip on Cliff Road, about two miles from Mangawcka on the way to Kawhatau. Another slip came down, and tho workmen jumped clear. One, Tom Dennis, was, hovever, buried to the knees in the rubble, while Blake was struck On the head and hurled into the river, which was in high flood. AVithout waiting to divest himself of his clothing, and hampered by heavy gumboots, Moyle courageously flung himself into the swirling waters of the Rangitikei in an effort to reach the injured. man. Little more than a hundred yards further down the river it is joined by the ATangawariki Stream, and the junction is made all the more dangerous by reason of the strong rapid just above it. Afoyle was unable to reach Blake, who appeared to be unconscious with a severe injury to the head, and the body was swept away in the turgid stream. Afoyle managed to grip a ledge of papa to avoid being drawn into the whirlpool at the head of the rapid, and was rescued from his precarious position by his workmates, who threw a rope down and hauled him up to safety. Owing to the flood in the river there was no chance of recovering Blake’s body yesterday. Blake leaves a widow and two sons, while his parents reside at Alarton. For several years Air. Blake acted as the “Chronicle” correspondent at Mangaweka.