DROWNING ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 77, 24 December 1919, Page 6

DROWNING ACCIDENT

MAN LOSKS JUS LIFE NEARCASTLECLIPF. By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.' Wanganui, December 23. Through UN inability to swim, an randovee oi the Harbour Board named byrinev AVestbrook met his death this niornin» The deceased was foreman of a jail,; which was engaged putting atone oa the trainiiiß-wall in the nvor channel at Ciistlecliff. just below tins dumping wliait. The mint had been made fast to the wall, and deceased went in a boat to clear the rones of the mint from the wall. While doins so the licit filled, and he was tlirown into Hie water. In his etrUKßlos he let so of the ropes, and maiiaeed to scramble on to tho twiningwall, which at that time was awash. A liireer wave than usual struck the. wall and washed the unfortunate man oft He was not able to swim, and gradually drifted towards tin- centre of the channel and disappeared when about twenty or thirty feet from the wall. None of the men on the punt could swim, but they at once communicated with the Kaione, which spnt assistance with all speed possible. This came just too late. prriviiiß on the scene about: a minute after Westbrool; had disappeared. One of the dredge hands swam and dived about in Ihe locality for some time, but withouf'siiccess. Tho search was continued bv the. police. , The deceased, "who was a married man with one child, was well known and lliirlllv esteemed. At one time he took nn active ir.iere=t in Methodist Ghurcfl affairs."