Napier Bathing Fatality.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 148, 22 December 1896, Page 2

Napier Bathing Fatality.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. The following particulars of the shocking fatality at Napier are from the Herald : — Mr Cooper went in for a bath in com. pany with Dr Sweet and Mr Goudy mout eight o'clock in the morning. The former being a powerful swimmer, fonnd bitnself quite at home in the water, and swam out some twenty yards from the shore. There were a number of boys on the beach whose attention was suddenly directed by a shark making towards Cooper. Dr Sweet and Mr Goudy bad by this time reached the shore. The boys threw stones at tbe shark and shouted with a view to frightening it. Up to this neither Dr Sweet nor Mr Goudy bad any idea of the presence of tbe shark, but looking in the direction of Cooper they saw to their greal dismay that the monster was in close proximity to Cooper. Other batherß were swimming not far off, including Messrs F. W. Triggs and A. G. Saxby. The latter, whilst swimming about, had been startled at seeing a shark pass within a short distance of him, some fifteen yards ent. Saxby at once swam ashore calling out to Triggs, " There's a shark there Triggs; look out ! " Before anybody on shore knew what was transpiring the shark had tackled Cooper. Dr Sweet and Mr Goudy immediately went to Cooper's help, calling at the same time for someone to accompany them. Mr Triggs and Mr Saxby at once joined isaue, and together they got hold of Coeper's body, the shark still being visible swimming close by. When Cooper was brought ashore there was still life in the body, bnt tbe unfortunate man presented a hideous Bight. The right band up to tbe wrist bad been bitten clean off. The left arm from tbe elbow was gone, and the remaining portion of the arm all torn. The left shoulder seemed to have been very badly bitten. The left side, over tbe heart, revealed a terrible gash. The left loin was mostly bitten away, while there were big scars on both knees. The right side had also been attacked, a considerable portion of flesh being horribly bitten. From tbe above it must be apparent that Cooper had a severe fight with the demon. The whole incident occnpied but a couple of minutes. He was Bwimmiog the over-arm style at the time, but it is mere conjecture to say where he was first attacked. The fact that an arm and hand were bitten off would seem to indicate that Cooper had fought the shark severely, and he being such a strong swimmer tbe circumstances naturally point to a struggle, though he never cried out, and nobody knew that anything serious bad happened until the water became reddened with blood. Deceased was a fine athletic young fellow, about 80 years of age, and highly esteemed by a large circle of acquaint* ences. He was part owner with Mr Abbott in Ardlussa run. His father resides in Manchester. Deceased we understand was to have been married shortly, and intended taking the steamer for Auckland in a few days. He won a swimming championship in Scotland; and only recently, at the Napier Swimming Club's Sports won the first prize for a fine exhibition lof swimming. About a month ago Mr Cooper took out a life policy fox £500 In the Mutual Life of Australasia, At the inquest, the jury, after a few minutes deliberation, found that deceased died from injuries inflicted by a shark.