DROWED AT OHOPE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 254, 30 December 1940, Page 4

DROWED AT OHOPE

YOUNG MAN S FATE

BEYOND THE SURF LINE

Ohope experienced its first first'drowning tragedy yesterday when a young man, Alfred William Osborne Lund, a visitor from Wellingon, aged 23 years, was caught beyond the second line of breakers arid apparently got into difficulties before he could be reached by another surfer who answered his call for help.

The day was fine and sunny and the surf, was comparatively mild, though strong and consistent. Mr Lund who was spending the holidays with his sister and brother-in-4aw> Mr and Mrs W. G. Mace, also of Wellington, who we're engaged on a North Island tour, went swimming about 10 a.m. Taking a surf board he announced his intention of trying the breakers, and though it was known he was not a strong swimmer, no concern was felt as there were manyi others in the sea at the 1 time. Shortly afterwards Mr H. M. McKenzie of Matamata, another visitor who was swimming at the? time heard a cry for help bej r ond the second breaker line. He immediately swam to the person who was obvious ly struggling beyond his depth, but before he could reach him, he had disappeared. Mr McKenzie lost no time, in ifying others and members of the O'hoipe! Surf Club were quickly on the spot. The body was recovered some time afterwards, but all efforts to resusitate the victim proved unavailing, though work was maintained for ov.h- two hours, with Dr G. W. Gower, of Hamilton, in- attendance. At the inquest which was, held yesterday evening before Mr G. A. Brabant, formal evidence was given and the finding returned was to the effect that deceased was accidentally drowned at Ohope while endeavouring to use a surf-board in the breakers, and being a poor swim rner apparently got beyond liis depth and lost his life.

ACCIDENT AX OPOURIAO YOUNG MAN DROWNED A sad drowning fatality occurred at Opouriao last Friday afnoon when Roy Henry James Clark, aged 20 years, a hol-< iiday visitor from Auckland* met his death while swimming with a friend in the River 1 . Mr Clark who was employed by Messrs Abel's Ltd., Aucklan'd' 'wfas staying with Mr L. J. Tebbutt, having arrived the day before to spend a holiday. •■About 2.30 p.m. he, with Mr K. J. Tebbutt .decided to take a swim. The pool selected was at an elbow in the stream formed by a fairly strong current'. De-< ceased however was regarded as a strong swimmer and struck out fo,r the opposite bank. His companion noted his disappearance after only five minutes and immediately searched for him without success. The police were notified and upon arrival commenced to drag the river in the vicinity with the result that the body was recovered approx2% hours later at a point near the: opposite bank. There were no signs of any injury. The' deceased whc was regarded as a fit young man had been rejected, for military service. His parents reside at Mount Roskill, Auckland. The inquest will be conducted later. At the inquest held ye'sterday, before Mr G. A. Brabant, a verdict of accidental drowning was returned, the coroner adding that the river was swift at that point, and although deceased could swim he suddenly disappeared and'was drown ed.