ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 42, 23 January 1945, Page 5

ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED

THORNTON YOUTH'S FATE

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST

1A verdict of accidental drowning was returned by the Acting Coroner (Mr G. A. Brabant) and! jury of four at the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the deathi of Samuel Alexander Greensladte Robb ; the 16 year old youth who was • drowned in the heavy surf off the Tlxornton ocean, beach last which took place in Whakatane last Friday morning. Formal evidence of identification yas given by Mr G. H. Johnston. Francis Malcolm a armhand who Avas one of deceased's rompanionSj said that with a party >f he had gone in for a swim n the surf ? and had swam beyond he breakers. He had seen the de-i eased getting into difficulties and tad struck out. in his toiether with another friend "hey struggled with "deceased, and ndeavoured to get a strong fishing ine around him, which had been rought from the shore. In this they rere as a heavy sea ras running } and the deceased truggled so much. They became jparated, but returning could see 0 sign of Robb. Witness was exausted from his efforts and reached ie shore with difficulty. There as «a strong undertow j and dcceas--1 was a poor swimmer. Leslie Baldock substantiated the >flive t describing how he had gone ► deceased's assistance." They had jne their utmost but were hamper--1 by the breakers. Sergeant Farrell gave details of his iquiries ? and added that the body id been found some two miles iove Thornton beach on the coast, •om his information death was irely accidental. The fact that there has been no Ficial Coroner appointed for Whatane since the death of Mr T. J. »9 immings made it necessary for the lpanelling of a jury of four to as>t the Acting Coroner. The memrs were Messrs C. Kingsley-Smith )reman) j C. H. Hitchins, T. Hall d S. J. McKenzie. In coming to a tnmon the jury commends the young men who went to the jistance of the deceased for their and also for the fact, that ah had endeavoured until the int of exhaustion to effect a rese.