DROWNED MAN FOUND

Press, Volume C, Issue 29516, 18 May 1961, Page 17

DROWNED MAN FOUND

Air Search At River Mouth

The body of John Russell Huria. aged 25. of Kaiapoi, one of two men drowned in the Waimakariri river on Saturday, was recovered yesterday afternoon. Acting as a spotter in an aircraft circling low near the river mouth, a Rangiora photographer, Mr Ray Hassall, saw the body in the surf The aircraft landed on the beach, and the body was recovered.

A Piper Super Cub of the Canterbury Aero Club was chartered by Mr Hassall, of 29 George street, Rangiora. at the request of one of Mr Huria's relatives. The Piper was piloted by Mr Brian Antill.

For a time the plane circled over the body in an attempt to draw attention to the location. When this was not successful the plane landed north of the river mouth. As the plane was sinking in the sand Mr. Antill took off again as soon as possible, and landed on the beach south of the river, a few hundred yards from where the Picton is stranded. Because the tide was coming in Mr Antill took off again at once, and left Mr Hassall on the beach. Sailors from the Picton waded into the surf with Mr Hassall and helped him to recover the body. Mr Huria. a joiner, was married, with one child. He lived in Meadow road. Kaiapoi.

The body of Lawrence Earl Orchard, aged 21, a joiner, of Akaroa street, Kaiapoi. was found on Monday.