STORY OF THE FLOOD.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16857, 10 June 1920, Page 7

STORY OF THE FLOOD.

— THE DROWNING OF PRANK. DUNKLEY. GALLANT ATTEMPT AT RESCUE. A stirring story of a struggle in the flood was told at Otorohanga on Tues-. j day at an inquest on the body of Frank Dunkley (eldest son of Mr A. Dunkley, of Selwyn street, Christ-church), supervisor for the Public Works Department, who was drowned in the flood near Te Kuiti on Monday. John McCready stated that he decided not to go out on Monday on account of the flood water. The deceased, however, received telegrams reporting slips, and said he w v ould go. McCready said hfc would accompany the deceased. They met, among others, Robert McCready, son of witness, who called attention to the water on the road. Robert, who was riding a big horse, changed with witness, and .took the lead. Witness was nest deceased. Ail went well until four chains from the junction, where there is a dip in the road. Robert's horse began to swim, and he called out. The horse swam about three lengths and then touched bottom. Looking back, Robert saw his father was safe, but Dunkley was in difficulties, his horse plunging Svildly. Robert to6k his coat and vest off and jumped on the big horse ridden by witness, and went back to help deceased. He reached him just as deceased's horse got clear. He caught deceased by the collar of the coat and deceased caught the horse's mane. Robert pulled the deceased behind him on to the saddle, when the horse, which was swimming all the time, gave a great plunge) and threw therp both off. Robert let the horse go, so as to help Dunkley. Both men went down, and coming to the surface, Robert got deceased on his back and started to swim. He was malting little headway, since deceased was fully clothed, and was also wearing an oilskin, while Robert's own. clothes were heftvy. Deceased said: "I am nearly done, Bob." Deceased then let go and sank, never to rise again. A moment later Robert got on to a barb-wire fence and waited to see deceased rise. As he did not rise, Robert dived, but could not find him. The water was deep and muddy. Robert continued to | dive until exhausted, when he swam to I a tree about 10 yards off, from which he was rescued bv a boat in an exhausted condition. Witness, when his son went | p to help deceased, also returned, into the f'water to help. As deceased failed to I rise, he rode back for help. There I must have been at least 12ft to 14ft of I water at the spot. | A verdict of drowning was recorded. A Tider was added to the effect that great praise was due to Robert McCready for his gallant conduct.