YOUNG MAN DROWNED WHEN SWIMMING TO CALL AID FOR OTHERS

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1949, Page 5

YOUNG MAN DROWNED WHEN SWIMMING TO CALL AID FOR OTHERS

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA). One youth was drowned when swimming to obtain help and three others were admitted to the Auckland Hospital suffering from shock and exposure following a yacht’s capsize off Kauri Point this afternoon. The drowned youth was:

David James CHmie, aged 19, sports goods repairer, of Mount Albert. A sudden squall struck the yacht, which capsized. Hoping to be picked up soon, the four youths clung to their boat in the cold harbour water. Hour followed hour but no vessel came near the three. Yachts passed at a distance and apparently did not see them. All were becoming numb with cold and the yacht losing its earlier buoyancy, was beginning to settle deeper in the water. In view of the growing peril, David Cliniie decided, as the best swimmer, that he would try to reach the shore, about three-quarters of a mile distant.

While the remaining three caught occasional glimpses of Climle as, supported by a life jacket, he swam toward the shore, the yacht began to sink. The youths tried desperately to keep their weight off the upturned hull and were losing hope when, about 5.25 p.m., the excursion launch Tawa was seen heading down harbour in their direction. By that time they had lost sight of Climie, but expected he had reached shore and had given the alarm. The Tawa’s crew rescued thes urvivors, but Climmie was lost. His body was found later.