RIVER CLAIMS TWO VICTIMS NEAR MILL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 85, 13 January 1950, Page 5

RIVER CLAIMS TWO VICTIMS NEAR MILL

Though dragging and diving Tinder polSce supervision were continued all day yesterday, the body of Ada Mary Pirimona, aged 11, who was drowned near the Board Mill on Wednesday afternoon, has not yet been found. It is expected the inquest concerning the death of Mr Kenneth Edward Austin, married labourer, aged 29, of 78 Ghuznee Street, Wellington, who died in a vain rescue attempt, will be opened shortly. The little girl, who lived with a grandparent near the Mill, had gone swimming with her aunt and others when she got into difficulties. About 12.45 p.m. on Wednesday, \ Mr Austin, who was holidaying at ' Whakatane, had gone down to the river bank with a party who were going swimming but, being unable to swim himself, was just watching the others when he noticed the little girl in difficulties with her aunt trying to help her. Though fully clad, he jumped into the water to assist, and did manage to take and hold the child while the woman struggled to a tree stump on the bank. But the strong current swept Mr Austin and the child away to their deaths. j Police immediately started a search for the bodies, aided in dragging operations by Mr Lloyd George and' Messrs R. S. Whittaker and ' Tom Reid with two launches, members of the crew of the Clansman, which was moored at the Board Mill’s wharf, and Board Mills employees. They found Mr Austin’s body about 2£ hours after he had disappeared, but had to suspend their search for the child when it got dark.