Coroner's Comment On Yachting Tragedy

Chronicle (Levin), 12 February 1948, Page 3

Coroner's Comment On Yachting Tragedy

JPress Associciion)

(Per

A 0 UlvU A.N D, Feb. 11. "This is one of those uufortunatt yfu-hling- tnigedies which. crop up alj too I'rcqnenti y, " said tlie coroner, Mr. A. Addisoa, when aii iiiquest into the death of Bruee fiiehard Allen, aged IS, of Epsom, was coneluded. _ \ ietor Field, aged 18, eierk, said he and deceased were returning on Januaiy 9 in his Z cJass yaeht, from a Jioliciiiy ut Oueroa wlieu a iieavy sea overUuned them. They elung to the eraft for some tane and witness decided to swim ashoro for help. When he retunled witli a search party he found Ailen's body on the sliore. Alr. Addisoa said he considered the two lads made prrors of judginent in atienqiting to sail to Auckland in that bad weather and also for leaving the , upturned eraft as, had they stayed witii the boat, they would have beeu earried asliore. He kuew regulations were being gazetted to trv to prevent those aecidents. Experienced yachts men were very concerued at the loss of these young lives. While he did not kiiow what provisions the regulations would make, he hoped they would insist that all small yachts be equipped with rolling choeks or open hand grips to which upturned yachtsmen could eling. They had xiroi'ed very usefui in liteboats. • , A verdict of accidental drowning was returned.