WARNING TO BATHERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 30, 5 February 1935, Page 6

WARNING TO BATHERS

COMMENT BY CORONER L REGARD FOR SAFETY ZONES PRAISE FOR SURF SECTION bathers should not swim on tin Castlecliff Beach outside the safet; zones marked by the Castlecliff Snr’ ►Section, and it is nut wise for peopl to swim after dark. If they were t< get into dilnculties nobody could sm ' them,” remarked Air. S. M. Dixon ’ J.l'., at the inquest held yesterday morning to inquire into the circum dances surrounding the death of Alai Leslie Francis, who was drowned oi the beach on Sunday morning. A ver dice of accidental death by drowniiq while swimming was returned. Air. Dixon complimented John Tre mewan Uoull and Donald Stewart Coul t on their attempt to rescue Francis, am r Air. Leo Fromont for finding the bodj . and assisting tu bring it, to the shore ; “ W*e have a very efficient surf ciul at Casllecliii’,” continued Air. Dixon ! “They arc doing their best to make > the beach as safe as possible for bath ing. They go to the trouble of dis covering dangerous holes caused by the action of the sou, and they mark out lhe zones that are safe. 1 think it is a precaution that is due to the section - as well as the public themselves, tha; i bathers should keep within those zones • 'J hey should also not swim out tot ’ far on any occasion. ‘‘The surf section is not in any way io blame if people are drowned outsidt the zones. They cannot patrol tht whole length of the beach, and they cannot be on the spot immediately when a person is in difficulty some dis tance away from the zones. We all appreciate as citizens the work that the surf section is doing, and we ought to do our best to co-operate with them. ’’ 2k verdict of accidental death due to drowning while swimming was also returned in the case of Lionel George Beaton, who lost his life at Castlecliff last week. (Both Francis and Beaton were drowned while swimming on the Castleclifi. Beach outside the safety zones marked by the Castlecliff Surf Sec--1 >on).