AN INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1921, Page 2

AN INQUEST

T An inquest was hold yesterday at Cobden before Mr F. H, Kilgdur, acting Coroner, and a jury of four, of which Mr 14. R. Barrett was elected foreman, touching the death of Noel Bennett, the previous day. Thomas Nelson, of Cobden, said that after school on Monday he and deceased went for a swim in the ..C obden Lagoon. They undressed on the Cob"den side of the lagoon, and then went to cross over to the other side. Witness was ahead of the deceased. When lie arrived on the opposite side of the logoon lie saw Bennett swimming towards the top of the lagoon. Witness called out to him to swim straight across. Deceased did not reply, and almost immediately after, he put up his arms and sank. -Witness sfram out to-help Bennett and caught him by the •hair. He sank with deceased, and, as he could not- get him out, lie called out for help. He did not isoe deceased again. To a juryman; He went in almost immediately to help Bennett. Ellen Gordon, of Bright St. Cobden, said that about 8.40 in the afternoon she was picking blackberries near the Cobden Lagoon. Sbe saw Nelson and deceased there, also picking blackberries. Later they undressed, and she saw them running across to the lagoon. About three minutes later she heard screams for help, and looking across, saw Nelson apparently struggling with someone in the water. Witness raised the alarm and went for assistance. Later she saw tho body recovered nl-, most at the same spot where yshe saw Nelson struggling .

Albert Thomas Bennett, father of the deceased, said he was present when the body was recovered, and he identified it as that of bis son. He last saw the boy alive about 8 o’clock yesterday morning. Deceased enjoyed good health. _ . » A verdict of accidental death by drowning was returned. The jury added a rider commending Thomas Nelson for his plucky attempt to rescue Bennett. The acting-Coroner expressed sympathy with tbe relatives in their sad bereavement.