DROWNED WHILE SWIMMING A HORSE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 307, 16 September 1918, Page 4

DROWNED WHILE SWIMMING A HORSE

SAD FATALITY AT HAPPY VALLEY. A tragic accident took place at Happy Valley Bay early yesterday afternoon, when a man Baraed David Sullivan met his death by drowning. Sullivan was single, twenty-seven years of age, and was formerly in tho employ of Mr. Tim Herlihy, carrier. For about a fortnighti_ deceased had been endeavouring to swim a horse in the hope that by this means ho would be able to right an injury to one of the animal's shoulders, which had been dislocated. On several occasions on which he had taken, the horse to the seaside, however, he had been unable to induce .it to enter the water. About 1.30 p.m. yesterday, in company with another man, he went to Happy Valley Bay to inako another attempt at getting the' animal to take the water. His companion, had a horse which waa to go out first, and act as a lead. Tho tide was high at the time, a strong wind was blowing, and the sea was rough. Both horses went into tho sea, and after swimmicg about for a while were returned to tho beach. Sullivan then went out again, but on this occasion he apparently got into difficulties, and lost his balance. He was unable to swim, and in his struggles ho clung to the head of the horso. Neither Sullivan nor tho horse were ablo to reach shallow water, and both wore drowned. The carcass of the horse was washed ashore during the afternoon, but Sullivan's body has not been recovered. At tlie spot where tho fatality occurred the rocks are exposed at low tide. Sullivan was inj camp some _ little time ago, but was discharged owing to the fact that he was subject to>crainp. He resided at 18 Eden Street, Island Bay, and had no relatives in the Dominion, oxcept an aunt, Mrs. Murray, wife o!f Constablo Murray, of Gisbome. An inquest will be held into the circumstances of the fatality when Sullivan's body is found.