DROWNING FATALITY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 266, 3 February 1941, Page 5

DROWNING FATALITY

MAORI BOY'S DEATH

ACCIDENT AT MATAHI

Hari Tioki, a Maori boy 14 years met his death in tragic •circumstances on Friday last bathing in the Tauranga River at Matahi near Waimana. With his sister, he was swimming when, he suddenly disappeared, and on being brought from the water was found to be beyond ai'dj, although every effort was made to resuscitate him

The river in which he was bathing "5s subsidiary to the Tauranga river and at the scene of the tragedy was "quite safe, and il was considered sit the inquest that the victim lost Wis life as a result of a heart seizure or an attack of cramp. His sister had when noticing his disappearance, fainted and had not re•covered until the body had been recovered from by other : people in the vicinu/-^..

Inquest Held

An inquest into the death of the hoy was opened on Saturday before Mr G. A. Brabant, District Coroner.

Evidence was given by Dr Maako *\4 the effect that he had. on recovery of the body from the river, ••applied artificial respiration, but "without result. He had used injections but also without avail.

The sister of deceased stated that she had, on noticing her brother •disappear, fainted and when she had Tegained consciousness the body had been recovered. Evidence of identification was given by the father -of the boy, T'imutimu Tioki.

Details of investigations made were given by Constable Teece, of 'Taneatua, who testified that all indications pointed to the fatality being the result of an aceidcnt, with the cause of the boy disappearing being possibly the result of a heart

rsemire. The Coroner returned a verdict of -death by accidental drowning caused possibly by an attack of cramp heart seizure. 1