TWO MEN DROWNED IN CAPSIZE OF YACHT AT AUCKLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 November 1950, Page 4

TWO MEN DROWNED IN CAPSIZE OF YACHT AT AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA).— Two men are missing, believed drowned, and one is safe, but in an exhausted condition, as a result of the capsize of their yacht in the Hauraki Gulf this morning. The missing men are Mr Arthur Toonan, of Princes Street, Otahuhu, owner of the yacht, and Mr John Little, of Avondale, Auckland. The other man, Mr John Leech, aged 37, of Princes Street. Otahuhu, who arrived in Now Zealand from Glasgow last January, has been admitted to the Green Lane Hospital for observation. The men left Wai.heke Island at 10.30 a.m. today to sail up the channel between Brotvn’s Island and Musick Point to Otahuhu, via the Tamakl River. Their 22ft. mullet. Iwat capsized in gusty conditions before they reached Brown's Island, and sank a few minutes after. Th? three men clung to the yacht while they could, and stripped off most of their clothing. They then set out to swim to Musick point, the nearest land. Mr Leech says he lost sight of his c°mnanions in a few minutes because of the gusty, chonpy conditions. He reached Musick' Point, at about 1.30 |r*.m., and the sWf at. the Musick I Point short-wave r°dio station notlI fled the police. Th-* Howick pohee organised a seai'ch for the two miss-

ing’men, but considered that looking for them in the choppy sea was nearly hopeless. Two boats were also sent from the naval instructional station H.M.N.Z.S. Tamakl on Motuihe Island, but also without success. The search was still going on late this afternoon.