INQUEST.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 34, 30 January 1930, Page 5

INQUEST.

An. inquest into' the" death of Robert Arthur Woodham, aged 19 years, who was drowned in. the Hutt River last Sunday, was i&eld in the ; Lower Hutt Police Court on Tuesday afternoon. Mr J. S_. Bartpn, cgrpner^ presided.

Dr. '3, J> Dudley gave evidence of hia. receiving a call to the xiver at 12.30 p.m. on Sunday last. Woodham, lie said, was dead when ie (witness) got there. Deceased had small superficial: scratches oh his- f ace,. and ,np_ watepr ; came from iis lungs, although the doctor added, this may ha^e been taken out before his arrival on the spot. If not, death, in his opinion, was due to theart-failuTe. ~

Arthur Woodham, father of the deceased, said there was no question of heart failure. His son was a good, swimmer and absolutely "sound ;\S. „Jeifersdn, Evans; a schoolboy,, aged 14 years, vvho brought Woodham out of t»hewatef, described the actual drowning incident. He and two' others were swimming in the Hutt.River in tie same vicinity as was Woodham. They were

diving from a stop-bank-about 4ft into about Bft pf water. -Wooanam was also diving. Rising from a shallow dive, .ihe deceased swam and stood on a wooden ledge which was submerged to a depth of three feet. Ten or twelve seconds later, deceased was seen corkscrewing and splashing in the water. At first, said witness, he thought the was fooling. It was not until lie was going, down for a-second time that lie realised that Woodham was in difficulties. " lie. then swaan out and brought •him to the shore. During" this process deceased was limp, and did not speak. In his opinion he was not siaffering f roia cramp, and was dead when he got; him to the shore. ,He applied resuscitation immediately but it was in vain. Owing to the jambsence of any wtiter coniinljg from the lungs, death, ne considered was due to heart failure.

Corroborative evidence was given by two other youths, Robert Berry and George Edward Wilson. - -

The Coroner aaid he would adopt the doctor's opinion as to the, cause of which was justified by the otter evidence. The finding pf- ike Coiirt was therefore that Seceaiied met Ms death s,ltrougli drowning^. the eyidence pointing cleariy to a seizure before hand.