YACHT CAPSIZES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18888, 31 December 1926, Page 14

YACHT CAPSIZES.

YOUTH DROWNED AT SUMNER. ! FIVE OTHERS REACH SHORE RESCUES IN DANGEROUS SURF. Ronald Eden, aged 16 years, of 99 Grafton street, Linwood, lost His life in the surf at Sumner yesterday morning, when a yacht was overturned in tho heavy breakers. There were six youths in the yacht. Five were rescued after spending some time in the surf, but Eden's body was swept away in a strong current. Those who comprised the crew were : RONALD BC'EN. aged 10 years, of 99 Grafton street, Linwood, drowned. ROBERT H. SMITH, aged 19 years, of 200 Lichfield street, City. WILFRED FOSTER, aged 19 years, of 9 Manning's place, Woohton. JVCK BEDELPH, aged 1(3 years, cf 20 Huxley street, Walt-ham. C. BARSON, aged 18 years, of 5 Short street, Linwood. F. ARNOLD, aged 19 years, of -10 Nursery road, Linwood. Although warned not to venture out, as the sea, whipped by an „ind for several days, was running hi"h the bovs set out from the Scarborough Boat Harbour shortly alter 10 a.m., and had not gone far when they ran into difficulties. Two of the party wished to make back to the boat harbour, but it was ultimately decided to go on. Washed Overboard. The boat headed parallel with the shore and escaped with a severe buffeting until opposite the Life-6aving Club's pavilion. It then shipped some heavy breakers, foundered, and turned over on to its side. Another breaker bore down on the boat and washed Eden and Barson overboard. ¥Aen struck off towards the shore, and then turned to look for Barson. Bedelph threw off some of his clothes and dived into the water to help Eden, but he suffered cramp and was soon in distress. Eden was not sot again.

Two young men, F. and W. Priest; of Sumner, v.'ere bathing near the pavilion and saw the boat in difficulties. When the boat capsized, they ran along the beach to the Life Brigade shed and Rave the alarm. AV. Priest helped to launch the lifeboat and F. Priest ran back to whoro the yacht was struggling in the surf. The Sumner lifeboat, in the charge of Lieutenant R. A. Kerr, crossed the bar, which was running dangerously high, and the lifeboat from the Scarborough end also set out, nut neither could approach the yacht !>eeauso of the pounding surf. The boats were tossed about on the breakers and stood off whilst rescue work, was carried on from the shore.

Brave Eescuers. A scratch life-saving team ran out a reel, and L. H. Heslop, of Auckland, in the belt, endeavoured to swim to the yacht. Heslop battled against the heavy breakers till almost exhausted, and then gave the belt over to Priest, Priest had run over half a mile from the pier, and he found the surf difficult to get through. He swam far enough out to hear the victims say "We are all in," when a huge breaker swept him from them. After another great effort he reached Carson, who was in the worst plight, being helpless with exhaustion, and, with another gripping the belt, he * got into shallow water, where, with the spare line paid out, he assisted Heslop to rope up the other three lads, and in this way helped them to reach shallow water.

driest, who was dragged under upon reaching Barson, had to fight every inch of the first portion of his return journey. Some seven years ago he had a similar though somewhat less severe experience when he rescued Mr "W. Machin, at Taylor's Mistake. * He was then a lad of 16 years.

The rescued lads were attended to by Drs. Bates and Slater, and residents supplied hot water bags, blankets, and stimulants. The five rescued boys were conveyed to their homes in Mr G. W. Peters' motor-car.

When interviewed by a representative of The Pkess yesterday afternoon, the five survivors looked badJy shaken, and Arnold carried' an arm in a sling. They all expressed ' sympathy with the relatives of their late companion, Eden, and stated that they realised they had had a fortunate escape from drowning.

A Strong Undercurrent. "I was absolutely at a lobs. It was the worst surf I have been in," said F. Priest, when describing the rescue work. He said that Heslop was not a strong swimmer, but he did not hesitate to go into the surf. If the surf had been less strong he thought that the boys would,have been rescued five minutes earlier. The exceedingly strong undercurrent made Tescue work difficult.

Mr Kerr, who was in charge of the Sumner life-boat, said that the bar was abnormally high. Those in the boat could not see beyond the breakers which rose to an alarniing height.

The yacht waß sixteen feet long, and had a centre-board. It was owned by Messrs M. McGarry and F. J. Arnold. It was built about seven years ago, and had been sailed at Sumner.

Body Found. . Advice was received at 5.45 last evening by Constable Hampton, stationed at Sumner, that the body of Eden had been found near the Scarborough end of the beach by Thomas Mills, of 150 Esplanade, Sumner. ~ An inquest was opened before the Coroner, Mr H. P. Lawry. After evidence of identification had been taken the inquest was adjourned.