A DANGEROUS BEACH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 309, 18 September 1918, Page 6

A DANGEROUS BEACH

CASE OF DROWNING AT HAPPY VALLEY. I The circumstances of the drowning accident at Happy Valley Day on Sunday, by which a man named David Sullivan, a carrier, 27 years of age, lost his life while swimming a horse, were inquired into by the Coroner, Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., yesterday afternoon. Deceased was single and'a native of County Kerry, Ireland. The proceedings at the inquest were conducted by Gergeant Wade. . Bert M'Kay, a driver by occupation, said he was with the deceased at Happy Valley Bay on Sunday afternoon. Deceased and witness each had a horse, which they took into the surf. The sea was fairly rough, and there was a considerable backwash. Witness was unaware that the beach was dangerous, as it was the first time he had been in the water at Happy Valley. Both deceased and witness went into the water once with their horses and then came out. On going in a second time the horses suddenly dropped into deep water. Witness was washed off the back of his horse four or five times. As he could feel that he was being carried out to sea he clung to the withers of his horse, which regained the Leach after a struggle. Ho was unaware as to what was happening to deceased. The last witness saw of Sullivan was when the latter's horse went over a ledge into deep water. Deceased was then on the animal's back, and the horso was going round in a circle. William Smart, bricklayer, of Happy Valley, said he saw the deceased and M'Kay go into the water. 'Die surf was very heavy at the time, and witness considered it to be dange'rous as there was a strong backwash. _ The horse ridden by Sullivan was swimming when it went in the first timo, but seemed to have difficulty in getting ashoro. # He saw Sullivan go in tho second time, and on this occasion the horso appeared to get into difficulties. Deceased seemed to bo trying to get tho horse to go back to the shore. The next thing he noticed was- Sullivan clinging to the horso with his arms around its neck. Witness went down to the beach with a rope, and ho heard Sullivan call out "Be quick!" Immediately after that Sullivan, who was about 5(1 yards from the shore, disappeared. Tho witness stated that tho beach shelved quickly, but ho had seen men swimming horses there before, although not 'in such rough weather. The horse could havo reached the shoro all right, but Sullivan drowned it by hanging on to its neck. Timothy Herlihy, carrier, of Island Bay, stated that deceased had been in his employ. Sullivan had only ono relativo m New Zealand—an aunt, who lived at Gisborno. Deceased was able to swim, and was a good hand with horses. Tho horse he was. riding on Sunday had been accustomed to the sea. * .in Constable Redican, of Island _ Bay, who knew the deceased, gave evidonco that two fishermen saw the body lying at the bottom of tho bay when they were out fishing. Witness brought it ashore and conveyed it to the morgue. There was a ledge about 50 yards from the shore, and to go out beyond that was dangerous. If, deceased had remained inside that ledge he would have been all right. A verdict was returned that deceased was accidentally drowned. The Coroner said that deceased did not appear to have recognised the danger of the backwash, nor did he seem to have known that the ledge was in existence.