THIRD VICTIM.
, < ANOTHER DEATH BY DROWNING ON WEST COAST. (SPECIAL TO THE PBESS.) GREYMOL'TH, December 30. The third death by drowning in the Grey district within three days occurred at Rapahoe this afternoon,, when a young Italian named Sante Tomnasi, aged 22 years, lost his life. Tomnasi, with a compatriot named Fulvio Dalle Nogar, was bathing in the surf near the mouth of the Seven Mile creek, when both got into difficulties through inadvertently wading into a deep hole where there is a stroDg undertow. A party of surfbathers in the vicinity went to the assistance of the Italians, neither of whom could swim. Tomnasi disappeared, but Nogar was saved through the plucky efforts of Miss Nellie Newton and a young man named Kenneth Griffiths, who, between them, managed to bring hiin ashore. Nogar was brought round after about half an hour. Tomnasi's body was washed up on the beach about 500 yards north of where he disappeared at about 4 o'clock, just an hour after the occurrence.
Artificial respiration methods were applied under the direction of Constable J. Houston, but all efforts to restore life proved fruitless. The body was brought to the Greymouth morgue. An inquest will be held to-morrow morning. Tomnasi was a native of Conco Viehenza, Northern Italy. He had been only a short time in the Dominion and was employed at the State Mine, Runanga. He was an accomplished musician. His only relatives on tho West Coast are two cousins.
While surf-bathing on the Hokitika beach yesterday afternoon a Hokitika resident named J. Hutchison was carried out of his depth and had a narrow escape from drowning. Hutchison was for some timo in considerable difficulties, but eventually managed to reach the shore with the assistance of another bather. It is stated that the Hokitika beach is very dangerous at present at any time of the tide owing to there being a considerable undertow, necessitating special precautions being taken by bathers.
Dragging operations for the recovery of the body of John Gibbs, the victim of the Dobson drowning tragedy, were continued throughout the day under the direction of Constable John Houston, of Brunner, but up to a late hour this evening the body had not been recovered.
The weather during the earlier portion of the week was perfect for the W.E.A. school at Arthur's Pass. The daily programme is a full one and the students appear to be thoroughly enjoying their holiday.
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Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18888, 31 December 1926, Page 17
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406THIRD VICTIM. Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18888, 31 December 1926, Page 17
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