YOUTH DROWNED: OTHERS HAD GIVEN UP HOPE

Chronicle (Levin), 3 October 1949, Page 3

YOUTH DROWNED: OTHERS HAD GIVEN UP HOPE

AUCKLAND, - Oct. 2. One youth was drowned when swimming to obtain help and three others were admitted to the Auckland hospital suffering from shock and exposure, following a yacht's capsize off Kauri Point- this afternoon. The drowned youth was DAVID JAMES CLIMIE, aged 19, sports goods repairer, of Mt. Albert. A sudden squall struek the yacht which capsized. Hoping to be picked up soon, .the four youths clung to their boat in the cold harbour water. Hour followed hour but no vessel came near. Three yachts passed at a distance and apparently did not see them. All were becoming numb with cold and the yacht, losing its earlier buoyancy, was beginning to settle deeper in the. water. In view of the growing peril, David Olimie decided, as the best swimmer, that he would try to reach shore about three-quarters of a mile- distinct. While the 'remaining three caught occasionaJ glimpses of Climie as, supported by a life jacket, he swam towards shore, the yacht began to sink. The youths tried desperately to keep their weight off the upturned hull aud were losing hope when about 5.25 p.m. the excursion launch Tawa was seen heading down harbour in their direction. By that time they had lost sight of Climie but expected he had reached shore and given the alarm. The Tawa's crew rescued the survivors and Climie 's body was found later.