SURF BATHING ACCIDENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1655, 23 January 1913, Page 4

SURF BATHING ACCIDENT.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Dunedin, January 22. The circumstances under which Joseph Clnrko and Charles Turvey met their deaths while surf bathing at St. Clnir on Saturday were inquired into by Mr. 11. Y. Widdowson, ncling-corohciV this afternoon. Alexander Leslio Thomson gave evidence that when the alarm was given ho swam out to. tho rescue, and Turvey appeared to bo holding Clnrko up. Witness separated them, and a man named Arthur W. liiasther then enmo out. Turvey grasped Easther, and pulled him under the water. Thinking Easther had got Turvey, Thomson got : hold of Clarke, and they, wcro hauled aslioro .on a life-line. There was only a slight backwash. Tho lifo-lino was drawn in very quickly, dragging them under tho water, Easther stated that Turvey pulled him' under twice, and witness could do nothing with him. He stayed for a while longer, but feeling exhausted ho had to make for the shore. Turvey's body was washed up immediately afterwards. A verdict of accidental drowning was returned. ..

Mr. "Widdowson referred to thepractico of people pretending, they were in difficulties, and described, it as little short of criminal. Ho also referred in highly commendatory terms to tho action of Thomson and Easther. .