FISHING LAUNCH TRAGEDY

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 15 June 1933, Page 4

FISHING LAUNCH TRAGEDY

MEN CAUGHT BY DRAG ROPE.

ONE OF TWO DROWNED.

(By Telegraph— Press Association. 7 AUCKLAND, June 14. While assisting in fishing operations on an Auckland launch off the Coromandel Peninsula a young man, Leonard Henry Peterson, whose patents reside at Mount Eden, was dragged overboard by a r-ope and drowned. Peterson was a member of fhe crew of the Clifton, owned by Mr. G. 11. Knaggs, Auckland. The third member of the crew was Edward Flaveil. At the time of the accident the men had commenced fishing and Peterson was standing on the starboard side paving out a drag rope attached to a net. The weather was fine while only a- medium sea was running. Suddenly Peterson called out that his foot had been caught in the rope and Flavell, who was at the controls, immediately stopped the engine to ease the drag on the line while Knaggs left the wheel and went to assist Peterson. He had just seized him when the rope dragged them both overboard Knaggs being pulled over the side by Peterson. . .. As soon as the others went overboard Flavell reversed the engine and backed the launch toward them. Knaggs was assisted aboard and the two men then hauled in the dragrope, which had run out with Peterson for 45 feet. When lie was brought aboard the rope was tightly wound round Ins right ankle. The rope was cut with the loss of several hundi'ed feet ot rope and net, - As soon. a.s Peterson was lntqa aboard Knaggs and Flavell commenced restorative measure and continued for two hours without success. They then sailed for Quarry Rock to obtain a doctor. On the journey artificial restoration was continued for another hour, but it was then seen that further efforts were hopeless A verdict of accidental drowning was returned at the inquest-.