SCHOOL PICNIC TRAGEDY

Chronicle (Levin), 2 March 1949, Page 5

SCHOOL PICNIC TRAGEDY

Press AssodMicm)

Two Girls Drowned In Sea At Pinmnertan

(P&r

WELLINGTON, March l. Two 12-year-old girls, nrembers of a school pienic party at Plimmerton Beach, were carried away in .a strong r'ip and drowned this afternoon. They were: — MARIA FLORENCE BURKE, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Bnrke, Trafalgar Street, Waiwhetu. JOSEPHINE BEVERLEY VOLTZ, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Voltz, Barton Grove, Naenae. The children were in a pienic party from St. Peter and St. Panl/'s School, Lower Hntt. It consisled of children from Standard 2 to Standard 6. They had arrived at the beach in the morning. Shortly before 2 p.m. the elder children in the party went swimming. While they were on a sand bank near the shore a strong rip suddenly developed and a number of children were carried along the beach. The Rev. Father Summers J.F., who was with the party and in the water atthe time, assisted a number of children , ashore while others. managed to scramble ashore themselves. The victims were swept f urther ont than the other children and when Father Summers saw them they were in difficulties. He immediately called for assistance and some men set out in a row boat. They reaehed one girl and orought her to the beaeh. By that time a doetor was on the seene and an ambulance had arrived. • Dr. W. K. Brvson

and the ambulanee offieer, Mr. J, Handley, applied artificial respiration and oxygen resuseitation was used, About 10 minutes later Father Summers saw the body of the other child floating some distance off shore. He went out and brought it^ in and artificial respiration was appiied. The doetor and ambulanee oflicer worked for two hours before hope of the girls reviving was abandoned. The bodies were taken to the school in Hutt Valley.