TREACHEROUS WATER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 8

TREACHEROUS WATER

BATHERS IN DIFFICULTIES RESCUES AT NEW PLYMOUTH TWENTY FOUR REQUIRE HELF. [ Per Press Association. ] NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 3. Twenty-four persons were assisted from the surf by life-saving teams at Fitzroy Beach during the week-end. Several were in a fairly exhausted vendition, and on one occasion eight were in difficulties at once. Though the weather has been calm and hot, the sea along the west coast has been disturbed with a heavy swell, and a strong backwash has developed on occasions. BODY RECOVERED WAITARERE BEACH TRAGEDY ( Per Press Association ). PALMERSTON N., Feb. 3. The bodv of Colin Dawson, w T ho was drowned at Waitarere Beach last week, was recovered this afternoon in close proximity to where the young man lost his life.

FATALITY AT RAGLAN MEMBER OF FISHING PARTY. t Fsr Press Association 1 AUCKLAND, Feb. 3. A Pukemiro miner, John. Thompson, 51, married, was drowned while fishing at Raglan. At three o’cloak this morning a party went fish spearing at dead low water. Thompson fell into a deep hole and disappeared. It was pitch dark and a fruitless search was made by his companions. DROWNED UNNOTICED BOY BATHER IN RIVER PALMERSTON N., Feb. 2. How a lad 10 years of age was drowned unnoticed amidst fifty or more bathers in the Manawatu River was related when Mr A. J. Graham (coroner) inquired yesterday into the death of Patrick Joseph L. Dilks, of Palmerston North. The evidence disclosed that the deceased and his brother, both non-swim-mers, were bathing in a pool in the Manawatu River adjacent to the Esplanade. They were in and out of the water for an hour or two, and at 2.30 p.m. the elder boy missed his brother. About 3 p.m. another swimmer, Douglas Goughian, was resting against a log in the stream and his foot touched the body of the deceased. With another young man, E. C. Fenton, he carried the deteased to the bank and artificial respiration was attempted till a doctor arnved. The doctor could only

pronoiinve life extinct. The coroner, in returning a verdict }f accidental drowning, said he could not undersra'd l how Dilks was not seen by any of the bathers in the pool.