TRAGIC ENDING TO HOLIDAY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 109, 1 February 1935, Page 6

TRAGIC ENDING TO HOLIDAY

Man Drowned Off Beach

SMALL SON RESCUED BY ANOTHER BOY

By Telegraph—Press Association,

Auckland, January 31

A tragic ending to a holiday occurred this afternoon, when a dinghy capsized off Cheltenham beach, one of the occupants, Roy Valentine Rennie, a well-known resident of Taumarunui, being drowned. The life of his son, Bruce, aged six, who accompanied him, was saved through the brave efforts of another boy, Charles Cook, of Hamilton, aged 13, who also was in the boat. Mr. Rennie, who was 38 years of age, and a member of the firm of Wilkes and Rennie, accountants, came to Auckland several days ago on a holiday visit with his wife and son. Mr. Rennie, bis son and the other boy went for a row in a small dinghy. Mrs. Rennie remaining on the beach. The boat was 200 yards from the shore when it was suddenly swamped and capsized, the occupants being thrown into the water. The boy Cook swam.to the beach, but on reaching safetv he saw that the man and the other lad were in difficulties, and immediately swam back. He reached Rennie’s son, who was in an exhausted condition, and brought him in to the beach. I Meanwhile the plight of Mr. Rennie had been realised by others on the beach. The man was taken ashore, but resuscitation methods .proved of no avail, and a doctor pronounced life extinct.