DEATH BY DROWNING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 61, 6 December 1926, Page 8

DEATH BY DROWNING

THE CURRENT TOO STRONG FRUITLESS EFFORTS AT RESCUE Dominion Special. Dunedin, December i. At the inquest on the body of Henry Stephen Baker, who was drowned at Tomahawk on November 7, and whose body was recovered yesterday, Janies Bannister Simpson said that on November 7 he was at Smaill’s Beach with a party, including Henry Stephen Baker, at about 11.45. Five of them went in for a swim, all being able to swim Witness was first in and went out 150 vards, intending at first to swim round the island, and then he found the current was taking him out tco far, so be made to come back, a task which took about a quarter of an hour, tie did not see the others as he came baclr He was talking to a girl on the beach when he looked out and saw Cox and Baker about 100 yards out. He went out to Baker and asked if lie was all right. Baker said he could not get inshore. Witness tried to tow him, but could not manage it. McKewen coming out to lend a hand, they both tried to bring Baker in, but the waves were too strong and were taking them out all the time. McKewen told witness to go for a rope, and he would try to hold Baker up. Going inshore he found the current verv strong, and it took him about a quarter of an hour to get out, and he was about exhausted. Wootton crabbed him and assisted _ him out. Witness then became unconscious. When he came to Wootton was going in with a rope. Baker was a good swimmer. The bathinc costume at the morgue was similar to the one Baker was wearing. Sergeant Murrav said that at 3 p.m. vesterdav he went to Tomahawk Beach with Constable Watkins, and found the trunk of a bodv lying' on the sand rear the rocks. He had it removed to the morgue and the bathing costume was taken off. There had been no one reported missing from the locality for about eighteen months. The remains had obviously been some weeks in the water. . . The Coroner said he was satisfied that the bodv was that of deceased. He then adjourned the inquiry until Monday.