FATAL ACCIDENT AT OAMARU.

Evening Star, Issue 3080, 2 January 1873, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT AT OAMARU.

r On Friday evening, the 27th instant, a man named Charles Henry Donnelly, aged 37 years, went to bathe in the Oamaru Creek Lagoon, and after swimming about for a short time was seen by several to disappear as though diving, and afterwards to rise to the surface and strike out for the shore, apparently in an exhausted state. In a few seconds he again sank, and did not rise afterwards, until the body was recovered by Mr Edward Booth, who, having been att acted to the spot by the cry of “ Man drowned,” dived down, and succeeded in bringing the unfortunate man to the surface. A man named John Parkinson, iu the employ of Messrs Walkera and Co., had previously dived two or three times without finding the body. An inquest on the body was held before T. W. Parker, Esq., Coroner, at the Northern Hotel, on Saturday afternoon. Mr Andrew King deposed that on the evening mentioned, about seven o’clock, he went to the Lagoon fora swim, and saw the dedeceased, whom he knew by sight, sitting on the shingle bank undressing. He asked him if he was going to have a swim. He replied that he was. He afterwards saw the deceased go up the creek about 80 yards, and plunge in. He appeared to swim well for about 3) yards, and to be coming back to where his clothes had been left. When about 20 yards from that spot he went down without a struggle, as though diving, and came up again iu a few seconds, and swam a short distance, apparently exhausted, his head being only 7 half Hit of the water, and then sank without making a sound. He (witness) saw the body in about 20 minutes afterwards brought to the surface by Mr Edward Booth, who had dived down in order to recover it. Another person, whose name he did not know, had previously made the attempt, but without success. Dr Wait was present when the body was recovered, and after examining it, declared life to be extinct. When be (witness) spoke to the deceased bo did not appear to be particularly drunk, but seemed as though he had been drinking, and was half mad. When he saw him sink he (witness) was half dressed, and did not think he was a sufficiently 7 good swimmer to dive after him ; but with others he set to making a Rax rope in order to do so. Edward Jackson, who was present on the occasion, gave similar evidence to that of King. Dr Wait deposed to the effect that he was present when the body of the deceased was brought ashore He examined the body, and found that life was extinct. Ho tried to create artificial respiration, but without success. Bethought that death had aris u from congestion of the brain, as, bad the deceased been seized with cramp, be could have cried out. He knew Donnelly to be a hard drinker, having several times attended him at the gaol when he was suffering from the effects of drink. Sergeant Smith stated tint deceased had been frequently committed to gaol for diuukenness. The jury, after a few minutes’ consultation, brought in a verdict of “Accidentally drowned while bathing in the Oamaru Creek Lagoon.” Timex.