DINGHY CAPSIZES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 37, 8 January 1946, Page 5

DINGHY CAPSIZES

FATALITY AT LAKE ROTOMA

ELDER].Y WOMAN’S DEATH

The holiday season was marred for campers at Rotoma last Sunday! by the death of Miss Ellen Moore, of Auckland aged ,62 years, who was ‘tEe victim of a bogting accident on "'the lake in which another jvoraan and two young children also Suf.fered a very narrow escape. The accident happened about four 'o’clock in the afternoon when Miss Moore with her sister, Mrs James Christie, also of Auckland and her two young neices went for a row in a small boat. Shortly after they were seen to be in difficulties and their calls of distress brought Mr Hans Anderson, of Edgecumbe, father of the children, and Mr C. L. Bennett of Auckland quickly to the rescue. Dr. Rogers of Hamilton "who had seen the mishap from his -bach' also came, by boat shortly after ■and though Mrs Christie and the two children were rescued, Miss Moore when she was taken into the boat lapsed into unconsciousness and in spite of all efforts failed to respond to treatment.

Tile inquest which was opened before the Coroner, Mr G- S. Armstrong yesterday morning for identification purposes was adjourned sine die.

Johannes Anderson of Edgecumbe, ‘■said that the deceased who was- for-i merly a nurse in Auckland had been staying with his family for the past two years. With his-family they all visited Rotoma on Sunday. Late in the afternoon the deceased with his mother,-in-law Mrs Christie and his two children went for a row. When they were about ten chains offshore his attention was arrested by their calls. Hi* with others promptly went -out to the rescue and helped them into Dr. Rogers’ boat. Deceased failed to respond to respirative treatment. He had no idea what caused the boat to swamp thought he knew that deceased was nervous of boats, and he thought it may have been caused by tire boat shipping water. Canavaugh Leo Oldham Bennett of -Auckland said that when he first ■noticed the group on the lake the •dinghy was almost out of sight and the- occupants were standing up in .ft. He swam out and took hold of Miss Moore who was supporting one of . the children. The boat was then bottom up. He assisted Miss Moore into Dr. Rogers boat, when-she was able to hang on, but only weakly. She did not speak. He did not think she could swim and he had no idea of the cause of the accident.