RETURNED SOLDIER'S DEATH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 140, 8 March 1919, Page 8

RETURNED SOLDIER'S DEATH

ACCIDENT AT LYALL BAY. A returned soldier named Thomas Alexander Munro, 36 years of age, was drowned while bathing at Lyall Bay yesterday afternoon. The decoased, who was single, returned to New Zealand by the Matatua on February 21 last. He resided at 110 Ferguson Street, Palmerston North, and on Thursday, accompanied by his mother, Mrs. Isabella Munro, he came to "Wellington to interview tho Public Trustee on business. Yesterday afternoon he and his mother visited Lyall Bay, and about twenty minutes to 4 ho entered the water to' have a swim. About fifteen minutes later Mrs. Munro noticed that he was floating on his back,'and as ho did not appear to be moving she-became alarmed and called to some men who were lying 011 the beach to go to his aid. Deceased was thon not more than 15 yards from the shore, and tho water was shallow, being only about 3ft. deep. A Maori named Tauri Whatu, John Knight, a returned soldier, and Bertram Lewes immediately waded out and brought tho deceased's body to'the beach, where artificial resuscitation was attempted. Motihted-Constable Wilson happened to be in tho vicinity at the time, and lie at once' rang up for medical assistance. The residences of ten doctors were unsuccessfully communicated with, but finally Dr. Pattio was loeated 011 a.bowling green, and he reached tlio bay as soon as possible. About' half an hour elapsed between tho time the deceaseds body was taken out of tho water and tlio arrival of Dr. Pattie. Efforts at resuscitation were continued for about ten minutes after tlio doctor's arrival, when life was pronounced to be extinct. . 111 July, 1918, deceased contracted influenza and pneumonia, and it is thought that this left him with a weak heart. He suffered from occasional fits of coughing; and it is surmised that ho had a heart seizure when swimming in the breakers. The body was removed to the morgue, and an inquest will be held at 10 0 clock this morning.