DROWNING FATALITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18349, 8 June 1931, Page 6

DROWNING FATALITY.

DEATH OF TASMAN STEPHENSON. VERDICT AT THE INQUEST. (Special to Times.) HUNTLY, Monday. The adjourned inquest surrounding the death of Tasman Stephenson, aged 19 years, who was drowned in the Waikato River on May'22, near Ohinewai, was concluded this morning, before Mr E. J. Farrell, J.P., and a jury of four. Alfred Rayner said he knew de« I ceased very well, and since the fatality constant searches had been made. He'found the body floating close to some willows near Foster’s Island at Ohinewai. The spot where deceased was drowned was very deep, and he could not swim. Leslie Victor Harris, who was with deceased in a launch when the fatality occurred, said that lie and Stephenson had gone up the river in a launch, owned by deceased's father, to shoot ducks. They were the only two in the launch. As they rounded a bend Stephenson saw they were approaching a snag and called out to go further out into the stream. Harris tried to do this, but the launch heeled over so much that it nearly capsized. He called out to Stephenson to hang on and he would switch off 'the motor. When he turned round he found that Stephenson had . gone overboard and his gun was in his hand. He saw deceased struggling in the water, but by the time he had turned the boat round to 'try.and rescue him he had disappeared. He did not see him again. Ho did not know at the time deceased fell overboard that he could not swim. ' The jury found that deceased had met his deatli by accidental drowning and expressed deepest sympathy with the family of deceased. The funeral, which was very largely attended, was held at Kimihia Cemetry on Sunday afternoon, over '6O cars taking part. Deceased was very popular throughout the district, having lived all his life in Huntly. He was an outstanding footballer of the League code, and there was a representative gathering of his comrades, also members of the local Oddfellows’! Lodge. _____