YOUTH DROWNED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18889, 3 January 1927, Page 14

YOUTH DROWNED.

$ ATTEMPT AT RESCUE FAILS. ' While bathing in the Jlil ford Lagoon, six miles ""t of Temuka, yesterday. a 10-ycar-okl boy, Jack Hobbs, was drowned. Early in the afternoon Walter Bertram Weston, Frederick Weston, Alfred and Jack Hobbs, and Willis • Cassidy wero bathing in- the lagoon, which is a backwater between Greenstone Island and the beach. The

lagoon is about 100 yards wide at this point. and three got safely across Cassidy returned to the hank, but the others swam across. They heard a. cry from Jack Hobbs: "I'm done! tie was then ten yards from the shore. Hobbs was siuiliiisi when he cried out, and the others did not go to his assistance immediately, but cried out: "Are you sure!''' Hobbs then threw up his arms. F. Weston and A. Hobbs then went to the drowning liov's assistance. The latter put his arms round F. Weston's neck and pulled him under the water twice. The same thing occurred

again with A. Hobbs. Eiventually Walter Weston secured Hobbs, but was struck in the face and was compelled to relinquish him. The would-be rescuers managed to schramblo to tho shore exhausted, and Hobbs went under for the last time. Dragging for tho body was commenced almost immediately boats and a net being. used. It was recovered at about '1 p.m. at the place where Hobbs sank. The recovery' party consisted of Ellis Mills, R. McLeod, and J. Davis. The body was taken tt> tho parents' residence, 5 Belfield street, Timaru. Hobbs was employed by Mr A. Tounbee, butcher, of Waimaitaitai. An inquest will be opened this morning.