DROWNING ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 117, 4 February 1918, Page 6

DROWNING ACCIDENT

AT LYALL BAY HEART FAILURE WHILST BATHING r A thrill was experienced among the many bathers nnd visitors to Lyall Bay on Saturday afternoon, when a bather was brought in from the water bereft of life. The unfortunate was William Barber, a single man, 28 yoars of age, who was a well-krown clerk in the Government Railway Department, and who resided at No. i) 7 Webb Street. It appears that Mr. Barber, in company with SergeantMajor Harrison Jones, went out to Lyall Bay after luncheon lor thepurpose of having a swim. They arrived at the Bay at about 2.30 p.m... and at once went in:for "a" swim.": They stayed in the water for somo lime. SergeantMajor Jones was the first,to leave the water, and was proceeding over the Bandy beach' to tho dressing-shed, when he heard someone- coll out that a man was in trouble in the water. Help was at onco summoned, and somo members of the Marahui Surf Club, headed by Mr. Emile Deslamles, -vent to the rescue. ' Mr. Deslandes found Parber floating face downwards in the. sea. mahout 150 yards from the shore. He turned the man over on his back, and towed him back to the beach, with .the assistance of others who had brought out the life-line. Barber was subjected to artificial respiration for some time, hut without result, and Pγ. Kawson, who had been summoned to thr scene, could on his arrival only pronounce lifo to ho extinct. The body was taken charge of by the police, and brmisht into the Morgue. Sergeant-Major Jones, who resided with the deceased, furnished the poltes with'the particulars of their movement prior to tho fatality. He further stated that tho deceased was a strong Ewimmer, but a sufferer from heart trouble, and it is supposed that Barber's exertions in' the water broughi on an attack, which rendered him powerless ; n the water, and so brougl about his death. It is • understood that Barber was called up for military service, but had been rejected owing to the condition .of his heart. Deceased's parents, who reside at Christehurch, havo been notified of the ; sad occurrence. Mr. George Barber, of 86 Nelson Street, IMone, is an uncle of the deceased. It is prcbaMr that a post-mortem examination of the body will precede the formal inquest The members of the Maramii LifeSaving, and in particular Mr. Deslandes, are to be commended for the promptitude with which they securer the hody after the alarm had beer given.'

. A WORD IN SEASON waenin(Ttolba.thees. Mr. Minifie, the City Council's caretaker, .states that ho is constantly warning people not to stay too long in the water or to venture too far out at Lyall Bay, and in his experience a great many of'the accidents that do occur at the seaside arise from a neglect of that warning. He also stresses the" point that those with organic weaknesses ahould not eea bathe at all.

■The week-end at Lyall Bay was a lively illustration of the troubles that may arise from over indulgence in the, surf and heyond it. On Saturday Mr. Murine was called on to render assistance to. Mr. T. J. Smith, of Boulcott Street, who had gone out too far beyond the surf. He was rescued in a state of exhaustion, and two hours elapsed before he was in a fit condition to leave for his home.

Again at 7.30 a.m. yesterday a wellknown citizen found his strength, exhausted when well out in the surf, and Mr. Miniiie brought him ashore, not without considerable difficulty. There were three other cases yesterday, where people had over-estimated their capacity and had to be helped out of the water. In the opinion of Mr. Hihifie bathers should not venture put beyond the third line of weakcrs (about 100 yards from the shore), as beyond that there was always the possibility of having to encounter'a considerable undertow which made it difficult to get back into shallower water, yet though he is always warning people, his advice, he said, is generally disregarded and trouble ensues. The caretaker says that in Australia people are fined; for venturing out beyond the_ 100 yards mark, and such s restriction at Lyall Bay would be a wise one. He is also of opinion that hot' water facilities should"be. provided on the beach as a remedial .measure for the partially drowned." ' .."■; . ...;■" '.