DROWNING TRAGEDY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 26, 9 May 1947, Page 5

DROWNING TRAGEDY

OHOPE FATALITY INQUEST CONCLUDED After nearly four months delay the adjourned inquest into the circumstances relating to the deaths by drowning of two small boys at Ohope on February 2 last was concluded before Mr C. . S. Armstrong, Coroner, last Wednesday morning. The tragedy will be recalled by residents as one of the worst in the history of Ohope and one which was directly responsible for rousing the public conscience and expediting the speedy resurrection of the Ohope Surf Club. The victims' were James and Brian O’Sullivan, aged 10 and 9 years respectively, sons of Mr and Mrs George O’Sullivan, of Trinity Avenue,. Lower Hutt. Final Evidence The final evidence was (hat of Frederick Bernard Snell, of Claudelands, Hamilton, who stated that while holidaying at Ohope on the day of the tragedy he. had entered the' water pushing his surf board ahead of him. He was bathing opposite the hostel and there were a number of people both in and out of the sea. He had not proceeded far when he. found a small girl (Margaret O’Sullivan, sister of the deceased boys) struggling in the water and on the verge of drowning. Every wave was washing over her.

When rescued she told Mr Snell that her two brothers were in the surf and she did not know what had happened to them.. Mr Snell then reentered the surf with his surf board but could find no trace of the children. The waves were churning up the sand and there was a strong undertow.

By this time a number of people had gathered and they also assisted in the search, but all to no aVail. Witness had stayed in the surf a long time, diving to - the bottom whenever he thought he saw an object in the waves. He added that there was a strong drift towards the Ohiwa. entrance. % The following day he assisted the police to drag the beach with the aid of a net and a launch. The Coroner’s finding was that the deceased, James and Brian O’Sullivan, met their deaths by accidental drowning at Ohope Beach on February 2. He added a rider to the effect that the brave and determined efforts of Mr Snell in attempting to save the lives of the two lads deserved the very highest commendation and it - was to be deeply regretted that they were not successful.